Mourinho: Liverpool ‘more important’ than Chelsea

Matt Stead

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says playing Liverpool means more than facing his former club Chelsea.

The Portuguese is the most successful manager in the Stamford Bridge club’s history, having overseen three Premier League triumphs, an FA Cup victory and a trio of League Cup wins.

Both of Mourinho’s spells at the helm have ended amid acrimony and the public spat with current boss Antonio Conte has increased anticipation ahead of Sunday’s match against his former club.

However, the United boss claims facing Chelsea is not especially emotional, especially with Liverpool coming to Old Trafford next month.

“It’s any normal game and probably to play Liverpool in a couple of weeks’ time means more. Because for my club – and everyone knows that the most important thing is not me – and my club’s supporters to play Liverpool really has a special meaning,” Mourinho said.

“That’s the way I have to look at things.

“And I don’t have any bad feeling in relation to Chelsea Football Club to say, ‘Oh, I’m going to play against my former club, I am going to prove this, I am going to prove that’.

“I’m not going to prove anything. In fact, every club I left – by my decision or by the board, which Chelsea was the only one – every one of my former clubs I have a very good feeling.

“I’ve never played against Inter since I left, but I played against Porto, Real Madrid and Chelsea. The feeling is just a good one. Not a special feeling.”