Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has continued his feud with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte by saying he will never be “suspended for match-fixing”.

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.

In 2016, the Italian was cleared by a court of any wrongdoing in the matter.

Mourinho’s comments came after Conte had accused the Portuguese of forgetting his own antics in the past.

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.”

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.

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.

“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.”

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

‘If you want to fight me I am ready’

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.

“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.

“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.

“I’m ready to fight for me, for my players, for the club, with everyone. I have no problem.”

But Mourinho denied he had aimed the comments at Conte.

“I don’t blame the Chelsea manager at all. I understand his reaction. I was speaking about myself,” he said.

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

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

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Conte left the job for Chelsea after Euro 2016, but replacement Giampiero Ventura was sacked after Italy lost to Sweden in the World Cup play-off.

“[Massimiliano] Allegri, [Roberto] Mancini, [Carlo] Ancelotti… I say getting warmer,” Tavecchio told Gazzetta Dello Sport.

“And Conte? Fire.”

Juventus boss Allegri has said he wants to be Italy boss one day but “not at this moment” and while former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is the Zenit St Petersburg boss, Carlo Ancelotti is available after being sacked by Bayern Munich.

Former Juventus boss Conte guided Chelsea to the Premier League title last season after leaving Italy, who he led to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

However there are regular reports that he is not happy at Stamford Bridge.

Tavecchio blamed former Torino boss Ventura for the Azzurri’s failure to reach a World Cup for the first time since 1958.

“It is all the fault of Ventura, he chose the staff, he has done all of it. We as a federation have never interfered.”

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Source: BBC

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The Premier League leaders suffered only their second home defeat of the season as Palace boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win.

Tottenham’s win at Burnley means they are seven points behind Chelsea.

“For (the media) it’s a good result, because it makes this more interesting in the championship,” Conte said.

“But I always said the league finishes when you have the mathematical certainty that you won. Otherwise you must fight, you must play every game to try to win.”

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he and his players still believe they can catch Chelsea following their 2-0 win at Burnley.

“It’s an important, a massive three points for us to still believe we can fight for the title,” said the Argentine.

“We showed great belief and character and faith. That makes us proud.”

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Source: BBC

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