Jose Mourinho will face another test against old club Chelsea after Manchester United were drawn against the Blues in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The last time the Special One took his new side to Stamford Bridge, things didn’t go exactly how he would have liked.
Antonio Conte’s men ran out 4-0 winners on that occasion, but the cup game is expected to be a much closer affair as both sides aim to reach Wembley in the last four.
Mourinho is sure to receive much of the attention in the build-up to the game, but however much he enjoys being the centre of attention, he’s giving nothing away.
Speaking after United’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, the Portuguese told a press conference:
“No reaction (to being drawn against Chelsea). I have to play Saint-Etienne, I have to play the EFL Cup final, I have to play hopefully another opponent in the Europa League.
“I have to fight for a top-four position in the Premier League. I have so many things to think about.”
There was one indication of some classic Mourinho mind games, though, as he added:
“Chelsea can only think about that [the FA Cup] because they are champions and they have nothing else to fight for.”
As Mourinho well knows, Chelsea are not yet champions at all, even if they can boast an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
If anything, the FA Cup may actually be more significant to Mourinho than Conte, as if he can’t steer United to a top-four finish, he at least needs to deliver some silverware to make his first season convincing.
Check out Football Advisor for profitable betting predictions
