Jose Mourinho is famous for taking sly jabs at fellow managers and, once again, the time has come for his yearly mind games to begin.

The former Chelsea boss who, regardless of how he left, will always be an icon at Stamford Bridge, has set his sights on his former club and has begun firing shots at new manager, Antonio Conte.

The Italian, who arrived in the summer having taken an Italy squad labelled as one of the worst for years to the quarter finals of the European Championships, has driven his side to the top of the Premier League in remarkable fashion.

Despite dropping two points at an in-form Burnley at the weekend, the Blues remain eight points clear atop the table, with fans and pundits alike having already handed them the title, well before this weekend’s round of games.

Speaking after his Manchester United side, who seemingly no matter what they do cannot find a way out of sixth place in the Premier League, had beaten Watford 2-0 at Old Trafford the Portuguese began sending his mind games towards west London.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss admitted that he thought his former side would win the title but through being defensive and catching people on the counter, not in an attractive attacking style.

However, whilst it may feel like the Portuguese is hammering his old side and looking to unsettle the man who took his seat at Stamford Bridge, his comments can be taken as a compliment.

First of all, we must look at Mourinho’s time in charge at Chelsea, across both spells. The now Manchester United boss built his entire philosophy on a solid defence, with a strong midfield pairing providing his solid back line with the ideal protection needed to keep the ball out, whilst attacking midfielders and fast wingers were released to do the damage up the other end.

Furthermore, it was not often that, even when they had the clear chances to, Mourinho’s Chelsea sides would go on a romp to a four or five-nil win, the manager would more often than not be content with just the one or two goals and a clean sheet.

Thus, it seems wise to go along with the comments of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville who feels that Mourinho may just be jealous that Conte is getting the kind of performances out of the side he so miraculously failed with before being sacked last season.

Therefore, while the former Blues gaffer is clearly trying to find any advantage he can in order to close the gap on his old employers, the management and players now at Stamford Bridge can actually take heart from what is being fired their way.