This was always going to happen.
Jose Mourinho isn’t one to make friends with opposing managers. He’s friendly with Tony Pulis, but with regards to direct rivals, it’s difficult to think of one manager, other than Alex Ferguson, that the Chelsea boss hasn’t got into a spat with.
Mourinho has entered into bitter fueds with Arsene Wenger, Manuel Pellegrini and Rafa Benitez, he waged a verbal war against Barcelona and Pep Guardiola, and poked the late Tito Vilanova in the eye back in 2011.
With Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Anfield, it seemed only a matter of time before Mourinho took aim. The 48 year old German possess effortless charisma, is something of a media darling and is managing a direct rival.
At his press conference for today’s game against Stoke City, Mourinho was unhappy with his stadium ban, and took aim at Klopp’s sideline antics during last week’s 3-1 defeat of Chelsea.
“I had a game a few days ago where I stood for 90 minutes in my own technical area. The other manager [Klopp] was jumping like Michael Jordan and nothing happened.
So, for me, I know everything is different. It’s all changed a lot. This is what I have. I have to adapt to it. I think the message the game’s powers want to give me. The message is more than clear.”
Does Mourinho have a point? Or is he merely suffering from a persecution complex?
Either way, if Klopp makes Liverpool top four contenders, and Mourinho remains at Chelsea, expect more barbs towards the German from the Chelsea manager.
We also can’t imagine Klopp will be too bothered.
