Jose Mourinho was at pains to stress that the Super Cup final against Bayern Munich wasn’t a grudge match between the two managers.
Chelsea touched down in Prague ahead of Friday’s clash with their boss adamant that the only thing he was interested in was beating the Germans, and not getting one over Pep Guardiola.
Jose Mourinho
The pair had a fractious relationship when they were in charge at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, with the usually calm Guardiola visibly riled by his rival’s media tactics.
That came to a head with an uncharacteristic 40-minute rant, complete with choice language, in the run-up to a Champions League semi-final. Madrid won the La Liga title a year later.
‘That’s not about me and Pepe. It’s about Chelsea and it’s about Bayern Munich,’ Mourinho bit back at questioning.
‘It’s about a Super Cup where the European champion is playing against the Europa League champion.
‘Pepe is not European champion and I’m not Europa League champion.
‘We just coach now the European champion and the Europa League champion. This is not about us. It’s about Chelsea and Bayern.’
Mourinho was prickly but was insistent not to further damage the relationship between the two. That is understandable – not for his own reputation, but for the simple fact he has other – much more pressing – matters to attend to.
’Pepe is not European champion and I’m not Europa League champion.
‘We just coach now the European champion and the Europa League champion. This is not about us. It’s about Chelsea and Bayern.’
Mourinho was prickly but was insistent not to further damage the relationship between the two. That is understandable – not for his own reputation, but for the simple fact he has other – much more pressing – matters to attend to.
One of which is the case of Juan Mata.
The Chelsea manager is unrelenting the stance that the Spanish international won’t be leaving the club before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.
The midfielder has been the source of intense speculation, fuelled only further by his omission from the squad that drew 0-0 away at Manchester United on Monday night, and by the fact his father and agent was reported to have been in the Arsenal directors’ box during the game against Fenerbahce 24 hours later.
‘Everything is clear between me and the player. We have no problems.
‘I think he’s a very important player for us. He wants to be a very important player for us.
‘He wants to stay. I want him to stay, the club want him to stay. There is no story.’
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