Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho jealous of former club Chelsea, says Gary Neville

Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes Jose Mourinho‘s attempts at mind-games with his old side Chelsea could be down to envy at how they’re performing this season. The Portuguese was sacked by the Blues midway through last season after a nightmare start left them hovering just above the relegation zone. Just a year on, Antonio Conte has taken them to the top of the table and looking big favourites for the title. Mourinho, meanwhile, has since taken over at rivals United, though he hasn’t quite managed to work his magic at Old Trafford so far as his new side scrap it out for a place in the top four. Neville feels Mourinho is probably jealous of how well Conte has got his Chelsea side playing, despite sly digs at the west Londoners for being ‘defensive’.

‘He’s probably envious, probably saying it as a compliment, because when I watch Chelsea they look balanced to me, the right mix of what you would like,’ Neville told Sky Sports.

‘I’ve never watched Chelsea this season and thought they were really boring, I’ve seen them go away to City and be absolutely outstanding, I’ve seen them be resilient when they needed to be, I’ve seen them play great football.