Jose Mourinho: I read Eden Hazard is in love with Antonio Conte and not with me, but he's not my enemy

John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
Standard Sport10 September 2016

Jose Mourinho has downplayed the suggestion that previous duels with Pep Guardiola could prove beneficial in the Manchester derby, and that Zlatan Ibrahmiovic would be extra motivated against a manager under whom he endured a frustrating time at Barcelona.

Mourinho and Guardiola go head-to-head for the first time in the Premier League in Saturday's Manchester derby, with either United or City set to lose the perfect record at Old Trafford.

Ibrahimovic fiercely criticised Guardiola in the past for the way the Catalan coach treated him at Barcelona, while Mourinho will reignite his fiery relationship with Guardiola following their battles as Clasico rivals in La Liga with Real Madrid and Barca.

However, Mourinho cited the example of his relationship with Eden Hazard at Chelsea to suggest that while coaches and players do not see eye to eye on occasion, it rarely leads to long-term grudges.

"I never read Zlatan saying that Guardiola is a bad manager," Mourinho said.

"I never read it. I don't think he is motivated. It is normal between managers and players you have more connections with some than others, but that doesn't mean you hate each other.

"I read something, for example, that Eden [Hazard] is in love with Antonio [Conte, Chelsea manager] and was not in love with me. But he's not my enemy, it's just feeling, that's fine. I am happy for him.

"So Zlatan didn't have the best period of his career but that's fine, they are not enemies.

"We are not expecting Zlatan tomorrow to score a goal and run to Pep, sliding on his knees - that's not going to happen.

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"You want stories but I think the story is, I hope, a great 90 minutes tomorrow between two teams full of good players in a mythical stadium.

"I don't how many billions watching the game all over the countries. That's the story, that's the story."

Mourinho also told those looking for a fight at Old Trafford to watch Kell Brook's bout with Gennady Golovkin instead.

"You want me to give you headlines and I want to go for lunch," he said, after underlying this was a match between players rather than managers.

"No," he said when asked if their relationship had deteriorated.

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"On the touchline probably nothing, but probably inside, in the dressing rooms, fine - I met him a couple of weeks ago. You want stories but I don't have them for you.

"We met in the Premier League meeting. You want a fight but the fight is Brook against the Russian guy [Golovkin], you know? It's not us.

"It's not me against him, it's Man United against Man City."

Mourinho proved adept at brushing aside the questions that continued about the pair's relationship.

Having in Beijing scoffed at the suggestion they may not shake hands, he was nearly as perplexed by a question as to whether they would share a post-match drink.

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"That's important? I don't think it's important," Mourinho said.

"If we do, we don't have to tell you. If we don't do, it is because we have other things to do.

"But it's not because of that we have a problem, because we don't have a problem."

When pointed out he sought out a nice bottle of wine for Sir Alex Ferguson in the past, he retorted: "Because I know he loves it.

"And football also changes in the past years. In this moment, you finish the game and we managers we have more work to do than the 90 minutes of the game.

"I prefer the 90 minutes of the game than the 90 minutes with you [in the media].

"I have to go to every television and I have to go here and there, tomorrow after the game I have to go to one of the club sponsors. Let me enjoy the 90 minutes at least."

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