John Giles criticises Jose Mourinho's 'scatter-gun petulance' and says Antonio Conte's description of the United boss was 'perfect'
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte
Irish football legend John Giles has backed the stance of Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in his recent war of words with Jose Mourinho.
The Chelsea boss has vowed "I won't forget" Mourinho's criticism, after the Manchester United manager hit out at Conte over match-fixing.
Conte branded Mourinho a "little man" after Chelsea's goalless FA Cup third-round draw at Norwich on Saturday.
Writing in his column in the Herald, former Manchester United player Giles said the Italian's description of Mourinho was apt.
"I wouldn’t blame Conte for taking the lid off his own anger with Mourinho and I thought he described him perfectly as “a little man”," he said.
"He has the perfect platform to make a judgement given the fact that Conte won the title with the same players Mourinho accused of betraying him before he was sacked by Chelsea.
"Instead of lashing out, crying and blaming everyone for circumstances he walked into freely, Conte got his head down, took a very deep breath and sought solace in his players.
"He is now just one of a number of targets for Mourinho’s scatter-gun petulance and I have no doubt that the attitude among those who never wanted him at Old Trafford will be hardening, especially since he turned his attention to the subject of the club’s ability to match Manchester City with money."
Giles reaffirmed his belief that Mourinho is set for the exit door at Old Trafford.
"I’ve thought for some months, as far back as the summer (when he made a point of mentioning that he got four from five of his summer transfer list), that he is in exit mode and that PSG is his target," he added.
"PSG may have other ideas. I can’t see Conte staying at Chelsea for too much longer but I could see him at PSG, Real Madrid or even Manchester United. You never know.
"If I didn’t know football as well as I do, I would say Mourinho is making himself unemployable.
"There is always someone who wants what he sells but at the very least, his constant attention seeking press conferences must be wearing thin with the Old Trafford hierarchy."
