Jose Mourinho hits back at Antonio Conte: 'I've never been banned for match fixing'

ByTNT Sports

Updated 05/01/2018 at 23:01 GMT

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at his Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte, saying he has never been banned for match fixing.

Fourth official Mike Jones intervenes as Jose Mourinho manager of Manchester United and Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea clash during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on March 13, 2017 in Lon

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Mourinho was speaking after the 2-0 victory over Derby County in the FA Cup where he was asked about Conte's comments about him forgetting what he used to be like in the past - remarks which themselves came in response to reports that Mourinho had a called Conte "a clown" on the touchline.

Mourinho responded: "I don't blame him. Press should apologise to me and him. The question iscompletely wrong and because of that it is an out of control reaction. I was speaking about myself. You said Mourinho said you behaved as a clown. I was speaking about myself.

"I don't need Chelsea manager to say I made mistakes in past and will in future. What I will say is I will never be banned for match fixing."

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Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United and Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea shake hands after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on April 16, 2017 in Manchester, England

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This appeared to be a reference to when Conte was implicated in a 2011 match fixing scandal involving his former club Siena - he was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing in the case.

The Italian was alleged to have failed to report fixing in a match between Siena and Albinoleffe in the 2010-11 season and was originally banned for 10 months in the scandal, then saw theat reduced to four, which he served before eventually being retrospectively acquitted in 2016.

The row started when Mourinho was asked whether he was happy at United and responded by saying that he didn't need to act like "a clown" on the touchline to prove his joy.

"Because I don't behave as a clown on the touchline, it means that I lost my passion," said Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho manager of Manchester United signals as Antonio Conte manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on April 16, 2017 in Manchester, England

Image credit: Getty Images

"I prefer to behave the way I am doing it, much more mature, better for my team and myself, I don't think you have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline to have that passion."

When asked about Mourinho's comments Conte used the phrase "demenza senile" in relation to the United manager, which translates as senile dementia, although a Chelsea's spokesperson was quick to stress that the Italian had meant to say amnesia.

Conte said: "I think he has to see himself in the past - maybe he was speaking about himself in the past. Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what's said in the past, which is his behaviour.

"Sometimes I think there is, I don't know the name, but demenza senile... when you forget what you do in the past."

Mourinho's response could cause the LMA to get involved.

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