London: Antonio Conte has reacted angrily to Jose Mourinho’s observation that “other managers cry and cry and cry” about injuries to their players, a criticism perceived to be aimed at the Chelsea manager, and suggested his opposite number at Manchester United should concentrate on his own team.
Conte has publicly bemoaned the effect a cluttered schedule has had on his squad over recent weeks and has lost N’Golo Kante and Victor Moses to hamstring complaints, and Danny Drinkwater to a calf problem. David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Tiemoue Bakayoko all ended the Roma draw carrying new knocks, too, with Conte admitting his team are now in “an emergency situation”.
Mourinho publicly suggested rival managers were more eager to point out their injury lists in the aftermath of United’s 1-0 win in Benfica and, when those observations were relayed to Conte, the Italian made clear his frustration. “But do you think it was for me?” he asked. “If he is speaking about me, I think he has to think about his team and start looking at himself, not others. I think that, a lot of times, Mourinho [likes to concentrate on] what is happening at Chelsea. A lot of times, also last season. [He has] to think about his team.”
Chelsea take on United at Stamford Bridge on November 5 with their relationship having already been tested by a post-match incident in the same fixture last season, when Mourinho suggested Conte’s celebrations on the touchline had been disrespectful to the former Chelsea manager.
