Jose Mourinho has hit back in his ongoing war of words with Antonio Conte and revealed his “contempt” for the Chelsea boss.

Conte launched a verbal assault on arch rival Mourinho, branding the Manchester United boss a “fake” and accusing him of being “a little man” as the bitter feud escalated between the pair.

Mourinho responded to Conte's latest barb by revealing his “contempt” for his Italian rival and claiming he had clearly touched a nerve with his own verbal attack on the Chelsea boss.

“I think when a person insults another, you can expect a response,” said Mourinho. “Or you can expect contempt.

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Image:
Reuters)

“The first time he insulted me I had a response, a response that I know that touched the point where he really feels hurt.

“Then he insulted me for a second time but now I change and now contempt and for me contempt means end of the story.”

The ongoing row between the warring bosses began when Mourinho defended his lack of passion on the touchline, claiming he did not jump around “like a clown” like some other coaches.

Mourinho attempted to "end" his feud with Conte with "contempt" (
Image:
PA)

Conte took that to refer to him and accused Mourinho of “dememza senile” - senile dementia - effectively calling him a hypocrite for the United manager's own past controversial touchline conduct.

Mourinho hit back, saying he would never be accused of match-fixing, a pointed reference to Conte, who was embroiled in such a controversy in his native Italy.

Conte served a four-month ban in August 2012 for failing to report match-fixing, but was eventually exonerated and cleared of any wrong-doing in May 2016.

Jose Mourinho took Man United to Dubai for a dose of warm weather (
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Manchester United)

But Conte, wounded by Mourinho's reference to his embroilment in the controversy, hit back again with his “fake” and “little man” jibes, which continued the vicious slanging match.

Conte also issued a veiled threat to Mourinho, claiming he will be ready for when United and Chelsea meet at Old Trafford on February 25, and questioned if Mourinho would be ready.

Mourinho and his players host Stoke on Monday, having just returned from a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, with the United boss hailing the mid-season break.

Sanchez showed off his skills when benched at Chelsea midweek (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

“It was very good,” said Mourinho. “The facilities were unbelievable, better than any football club in the world, nice weather, three days of training, really, really good.

Could Sanchez go to Man United instead of Man City? (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

“We did things we can't do when have no time to train together, so hopefully we can improve our level.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains sidelined through injury, but Mourinho said he expects the forward to back in full training by the end of the month.

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