{"id":389289,"date":"2018-01-06T11:01:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-06T11:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=389289"},"modified":"2018-01-06T11:01:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-06T11:01:32","slug":"mourinho-escalates-feud-conte-match-fixing-jibe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=389289","title":{"rendered":"Mourinho escalates feud with Conte with ‘match-fixing’ jibe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has continued his feud with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte by saying he will never be “suspended for match-fixing”.<\/p>\n

Conte received a four-month suspension while at Juventus in the 2012-13 season for failing to report match-fixing at his previous club Siena.<\/p>\n

In 2016, the Italian was cleared by a court of any wrongdoing in the matter.<\/p>\n

Mourinho’s comments came after Conte had accused the Portuguese of forgetting his own antics in the past.<\/p>\n

Conte had reacted angrily this week to Mourinho’s assertion that he did not need to act like a “clown” in his technical area, saying: “I think he has to see himself in the past – maybe he was speaking about himself in the past.”<\/p>\n

Speaking after his side’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Derby on Friday, Mourinho said the “clown” comments were not directed at Conte.<\/p>\n

But he added: “The only thing I want to say to end the story is that yes, I made mistakes in the past on the touchline. Yes, I will make less but I think I will still make a few.<\/p>\n

“What never happened to me – and will never happen – is to be suspended for match-fixing. That never happened to me and will never happen.”<\/p>\n

Mourinho was then told by a journalist that Conte had been charged by football authorities in the past with failing to report match-fixing.<\/p>\n

‘If you want to fight me I am ready’<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday, speaking before United’s win over Derby, Conte reacted to Mourinho – who has managed Chelsea twice, winning three Premier League titles across two spells at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

“There is a person that continues to look here. You understand? He went away, but he continued to look here,” said Conte, who won the title last season with the Blues.<\/p>\n

“I am starting to be a bit annoyed. If you want to go to fight with me I am ready. I am improving a bit my English – because this is the real problem for me – otherwise we can go, we can go to fight.<\/p>\n

“I’m ready to fight for me, for my players, for the club, with everyone. I have no problem.”<\/p>\n

But Mourinho denied he had aimed the comments at Conte.<\/p>\n

“I don’t blame the Chelsea manager at all. I understand his reaction. I was speaking about myself,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I was saying I don’t need to behave as a clown to show passion, that I control my emotions in a better way.”<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Best of enemies – a history of confrontation<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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  • 19 October 2017:\u00a0Conte says Mourinho needs to “look at himself” and stop talking about his former side<\/li>\n
  • 29 July 2017:\u00a0Conte says that he must avoid “a Mourinho season” as the champions attempt to defend their Premier League title.<\/li>\n
  • 14 March 2017:\u00a0Mourinho tells Chelsea fans “I’m still number one” after being heckled during his side’s FA Cup loss at Stamford Bridge<\/li>\n
  • 12 February 2017:\u00a0Conte says he does not like Mourinho’s “joking” after the Manchester United boss said Chelsea cannot be caught because they are a “defensive team”<\/li>\n
  • 23 October 2016:\u00a0Conte says he was “not mocking anyone” after appearing to antagonise Mourinho in Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n