Jose Mourinho has scorned the Chelsea side humbled at Old Trafford on Sunday as being unrecognisable from the outfit he put together during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho refused to speak to the press before or after Manchester United's 3-0 - although he reputedly remained motionless in his seat after the final whistle as if in shock at what he had just witnessed - but broke his silence upon his return to Italy.
"I didn't see Chelsea," the Inter Milan manager was quoted as saying by The Independent. "I saw people from Chelsea before the match, at half-time and after the match. But I didn't see Chelsea on the pitch. I only saw Manchester United."
Mourinho's Inter team must travel to Old Trafford themselves on 24 February so it was somewhat predictable that he was keen to stress that Sunday's mismatch was a consequence of Chelsea's disappearing act and downplay United's own performance.
"United won and deservedly so. It was an exceptional result but it wasn't an exceptional match. It was low key."
Your Comments
DownUnderBlue
"You are rite Jose, chelsea didn't show up infact they haven't shown up since u left! Oh what an idiot roman is for letting u go!"
berbagod
"i wouldnt say anelkas not up to it..he is,after all,top scorer this season. i do realise though that a vast majority of his goals were tap ins, but he seems to be in form compared to drogbas record, no? and fantastic that liverpool fans have realised the big red machine that is catching up fast in the premier league and are now reffering to a lost match in a competition that they were knocked out of, in which darren gibson was picked over ronaldo."
GlobalRed
"lfcPaul. Yes we United fans are so scared of the mighty Derby coming to Old Trafford and knock us out. Dream on boy. It is over 2 legs, so wait until then."
Rogerio
"I totally agree with Jose. Some of the players showed no commitment to the shirt. Drogba was a disgrace as he was against Southend. No pasion, hunger or commitment. If he does not want to be there get him out. His sulky lazy attitude is rubbing off on some of the other players. What sort of an example is he to the younger players. Deco & Ballack showed little commitment and Anelka,Malouda & Kalou are just not up to it. Big Phil needs to give them a big kick up the backside."
Griff
"I agree, TheBallsOnVidic. Replacing Fergie is an impossible task, unfortunately, and I don't think Steve Bruce is quite ready, superb though he's been at transforming Wigan from relegation certs to UEFA Cup spot-botherers. I think if Mourinho were offered the job, he'd be over there so fast his feet wouldn't touch the ground, and he'd win United more trophies. It just wouldn't be as exciting though. Despite what anyone says about Fergie, he's managed to combine winning trophies regularly with exciting football in a way no-one else has managed to do."
TheBallsOnVidic
"howlong - I agree with you about Jose. I don't know how you Liverpool fans get enthusiastic about such rigid, tight, defensive football (I'd make the same argument for Chelsea fans under Mourinho, but, you know!). I don't want to see Mourinho at United, but I think they might go for someone with a proven track record of success (and pay the price of quality of football), rather than someone like Steve Bruce who gets the best out of his players and seems to play half-decent football, from the little bit I've seen of Wigan. There aren't really that many top-quality and available managers. I'm 23 and I've never known anything other than Fergie at United, and for all his faults, I'm worried about what will happen after he leaves."
howlong
"theballsonvidic, benitez is nothing like the other 2 mate, yes a couple of recent headlines but generally a decent dignified man.
I would be very surprised if united fans would welcome jose (yes he's a character) but his style of football does not blend with united's long standing attack orientated philosophy"
lfcpaul
"Man United must be quaking in their boots. Mourinho is a quality coach. He wouldn't have got much from watching them beat a very poor Chelsea team, but if Derby can turn them over in a cup competition,what will Inter Milan do?"
danny1987uk
"Mourinho would make a excellent United manager - If he was given enough time. Why should he need respect for other managers when the main thing is getting his team to do well."
Griff
"howlong, when Fergie retires, I'd like a manager capable of delivering trophies. I suspect, if you're honest, you would too. (Mourinho's defensive tactics would worry me, though.)"
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