Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made it his mission to topple Chelsea... he snatched Romelu Lukaku and will do anything to wrestle the title back from his former club
- Jose Mourinho won league with Chelsea two years ago but is now their nemesis
- Manchester United boss is desperate to steal title from his former club's grasp
- Mourinho stole Romelu Lukaku and wants to do same with Tiemoue Bakayoko
- It all started last season when Chelsea fans sang 'Judas' at their old manager
May 2015 was the month Jose Mourinho confirmed his place in the Chelsea hall of fame. A third Premier League title, 10 years after his first, and the Blues were champions of England once again.
Fast forward two years and those at Stamford Bridge look at Mourinho in a different light. Things move quickly in football... hero to villain in the blink of an eye.
He is now in charge at Old Trafford, patting the badge on his Manchester United jacket at every opportunity. Mourinho is becoming Chelsea's biggest nemesis.
Jose Mourinho was a Chelsea legend but has now turned into a villain at Stamford Bridge
Mourinho won three Premier League titles across two separate spells as manager of Chelsea
This summer confirmed it, as the Portuguese stole Chelsea's biggest transfer target from under their nose, rubbing it in at the earliest opportunity.
According to Mourinho, Romelu Lukaku was joining 'the biggest club in the world', a swipe at Chelsea who were so desperate to re-sign their former striker.
Tiemoue Bakayoko could be next. United have told Monaco they will pay upwards of £40million for the midfielder, following Chelsea's rejected £37m offer.
The Blues are still confident they'll get their man, but it's a case of 'anything you can do, we can do better' from Mourinho's perspective.
It all started last season in a feisty game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fans directed chants of 'Judas' at their former boss, and he didn't take it well.
A three-fingered salute was the response, to represent the league titles he won at the club. In Mourinho's mind, Chelsea fans needed reminding of his brilliance.
Mourinho stole Romelu Lukaku from under the nose of his ex-club as he looks to topple them
Mourinho will do anything he can to beat Chelsea to the Premier League title next season
'I am a professional,' he said after the game. 'I defend my club. Until the moment [Chelsea] have a manager that wins four Premier Leagues for them, I'm the No1.
'When they have somebody who wins four Premier Leagues for them, I'll be No2. For this moment, "Judas" is No1.'
And from there, it seems his personal vendetta to get one over on Chelsea has taken a hold. He will do anything to drag himself above them.
Last season, Chelsea finished 24 points ahead of United, but this summer Mourinho has started work on his squad to close that gap.
It all started last season when Mourinho responded to Chelsea's chants of 'Judas' at him
Tiemoue Bakayoko is next on Mourinho's agenda as he looks to steal another United target
Victor Lindelof and Lukaku are through the door, Ivan Perisic and Bakayoko are being lined up, and Mourinho is getting his own way again.
This has happened before, with Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Mourinho swiped Ashley Cole away and fired shots at the manager in an attempt to topple them from the upper echelons of English football.
Chelsea are his next target, and he knows them inside out. Nemanja Matic is another example of Mourinho doing his best to upset the apple cart in west London.
The midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester United all summer, and it's a win-win situation for Jose as we head towards the 2017-18 season.
This has happened before with Arsene Wenger when Mourinho began a war of words with him
Nemanja Matic has been unsettled by Mourinho this summer, with rumours of a move north
He either gets his man and Matic moves north, or he chooses Bakayoko instead and the Serbian falls by the wayside. If the latter happens, who knows where Matic goes from there? He will have spent the summer expecting to pack his bags... until all of a sudden he's left to pick up the pieces with Antonio Conte.
Ultimately, the goal for Mourinho and the red half of Manchester is to win the Premier League title. Nothing less can be considered a success.
But if they do manage it, and Mourinho lifts the trophy on May 13, he will take a moment to glance at Chelsea's position in the Premier League. The Blues will be below his side, and it will be mission accomplished once more.
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