Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will be up against his old club and arch managerial rival Antonio Conte when United take on Chelsea in the 2018 FA Cup final on 19 May.
With both clubs in need of a trophy, the build-up to the match could reignite the hostility between the United manager and Chelsea boss Conte.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In January the two men were engaged in a war of words after Mourinho branded Conte a clown and the Italian responded by suggesting the United boss had senile dementia.
That prompted Mourinho to make a barbed comment about match-fixing, a reference to the four-month ban Conte served for failing to report match-fixing at one of his former clubs, Siena.
The Italian was clearly upset and called Mourinho a “little man” and offered to meet the Portuguese in a room, “just me and him”.
Since then the feud has simmered down, but according to The Independent “wily Italian fox” Conte has begun the mind games ahead of the next showdown “by insisting that United would be the favourites at Wembley on 19 May”.
But ESPN says that Conte is at pains to play down the feud, although he has suggested that Mourinho and United will be under more pressure to win the cup.
The United boss seems to agree, says The Times. “Manchester United may have just reached a record-equalling 20th FA Cup final but Jose Mourinho believes his critics are already sharpening their knives in anticipation of his potential failure to win a trophy this season,” says the paper.
-
Trump-Putin: would land swap deal end Ukraine war?Today's Big Question Ukraine ready to make 'painful but acceptable' territorial concessions – but it still might not be enough for Vladimir Putin
-
The truth about sunscreenThe Explainer The science behind influencer claims that sun cream is toxic
-
Blue whales have gone silent and it's posing troubling questionsUnder the radar Warming oceans are the answer
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
-
Denis Law obituary: fond farewell to 'the King of the Stretford End'In the Spotlight Scottish footballer who was one of Manchester United's 'Holy Trinity' has died aged 84
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten HagTalking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football managerSpeed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at playersfeature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
-
Man Utd win the Carabao Cup: how Erik ten Hag has ‘transformed’ the Red Devilsfeature United lifted their first silverware since 2017 after beating Newcastle at Wembley
