Mourinho aims ‘fat’ jibe at rival Benitez

Washington: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho fired back Tuesday at comments from the wife of Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez, who said her husband is “tidying up” Mourinho “messes” once again.

Montserrat Seara told Le Region newspaper that her Spanish husband has had to clean up after Mourinho in three stops where he has followed the Portuguese coach, at Inter Milan and Chelsea as well as Real Madrid.

After Chelsea beat Barcelona 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw in regular time, Mourinho noted that only in the Inter Milan case did Benitez directly follow him into the job of guiding the squad.

“The lady is a bit confused,” Mourinho said, drawing laughs from reporters but noting for himself, “I am not laughing.”

Mourinho, now in his second stint guiding Chelsea, said that when Benitez did follow him at Inter, “in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.”

And Mourinho had some advice for Seara.

“She needs to occupy her time,” he said. “If she takes care of her husband’s diet, she will not have any time to talk about me.”