Chelsea absolutely thrashed Manchester United 4-0 today, and after the game, we had a bit of a potential tiff between managers.
United Manager Jose Mourinho was captured by TV cameras, which also picked up the sound to a minor degree, speaking in his counterpart, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte’s ear in Italian. The sound, lip-readers, reports in both Italy and England, say that Mourinho took issue with what he saw as over-celebration from the Chelsea leader.
Various reports say that Mourinho said something to the effect of when you did it (excessive celebrating) at 4-0, you humiliated me. Supposedly Conte responded by telling him that he was simply trying to fire up his own fans, who had now gone quiet.
“I was listening to the supporters of Man United during the game always supporting their team,” Antonio Conte told Sky Sports after the game.
“In one moment of great silence and after a great performance like this, I asked my supporters to do a great clap for the players. I think this is normal and today you see all the players deserved it.”
Conte was asked what Mourinho had said to him by a reporter and Conte replied: “I think a private conversation must remain private. If someone discovers something, OK, but for me the conversation will remain private.”
Mourinho likewise would not reveal exactly what was said when he was asked during his own post match press conference.
Conte also said that he had no regret about celebrating: “No. If we want to cut the emotion [from football], I go home and change my job.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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