Conte won't forget Mourinho's verbal attack

Antonio Conte vowed not to forget Jose Mourinho's jibe regarding his four-month ban for failing to report match-fixing, but says he doesn't regret his own retorts during the weekend's warring words.

The Chelsea manager was the first to directly target Mourinho after his Manchester United counterpart said he didn't have to "behave as a clown on the touchline" to prove his enthusiasm for his job. Conte, presumably viewing this as a veiled dig from the Portuguese, said Mourinho was acting as if he suffered from "demenza senile" - Chelsea later stressed Conte meant "amnesia" - given his own boisterous touchline antics in the past.

Mourinho then referenced Conte's name being wrapped up in a match-fixing scandal back in his native Italy. The Blues boss was clearly hurt by Mourinho's outburst given the unwanted hounding he and his family received during the investigation, so hit back by calling him a "little man" and "fake." As an example of Mourinho's insincerity, Conte cited the two-time Chelsea gaffer's decision to support Claudio Ranieri after his Leicester City sacking when he had previously mocked his poor English. Conte claimed Mourinho was simply looking after his own profile.

"I have this look, of a person that regrets? I don't think so," Conte said at a press conference Tuesday, according to the Guardian's David Hynter. "I think we both said things and we'll see what happens in future."

Considering the severity of some of the insults - Mourinho's low blow when bringing up a scandal from which his rival was exonerated, and Conte using a medical condition that can ruin lives as put-down - there was a chance that the League Managers Association would step in to try to resolve their issues. Conte didn't disclose whether the body had entered their squabble, but said he wouldn't forget what Mourinho had said.

"He said serious words, using serious words, and I won't forget this," he shared. "This is not a problem from the clubs, it's a problem between me and him. I stop. Stop."

Chelsea and Manchester United next meet on Feb. 25, although the clash at Old Trafford will be rescheduled if the Blues reach the League Cup final at Arsenal's expense.