United boss Mourinho has become our ‘enemy’ – Conte

Joe Williams

Antonio Conte believes Chelsea must now regard Jose Mourinho as an “enemy” when he returns to Stamford Bridge with his Manchester United side on Sunday – but the Italian hopes he gets a good reception from the supporters.

Jose Mourinho was sacked by the Blues last season after a succession of poor results left them in the bottom half of the Premier League table, before Guus Hiddink took the reins until the end of the campaign.

The Portuguese coach took over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in the summer and will travel to Stamford Bridge on Monday for the first time with another Premier League side.

“I think that he was an important manager for Chelsea, with the club and the players he wrote a part of the story,” Conte told reporters on Friday.

“He won three championships here and was an important man to the club.

“I think he deserves a good reception because, I repeat, I wrote with the players/staff a part of the story of this club.”

Conte, who has enjoyed a decent start to life at Chelsea, reckons they will have to treat him like an “enemy” while the game is taking place.

“He becomes, like the players of Man United, an enemy… but only on the sporting aspect.

“I have great respect for him. I am sure that he is a great manager and he has won a lot in his career.

“He deserves great respect.”