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Mourinho: Abramovich was never my friend

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The Portuguese has admitted he was never close to the Chelsea owner

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits he was “never close” to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, despite working for the Russian twice at Stamford Bridge.

The 53-year-old was sacked last December, after Chelsea’s title defence got off to a woeful start and had the west London club hovering just above the relegation, heading in to Christmas.

Mourinho was subsequently sacked and left searching for a job in the second half of the season, before being appointed Red Devils boss this summer.

And, ahead of the Portuguese’s return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, when his United side look to kickstart their steady start to the season, responding to the question about whether he was friends with Abramovich, Mourinho said: “He was never my friend.

“We always had the relationship of owner-manager. It was a very respectful relationship. We were never friends. We were never close to each other.”

“So, no. He is just a person that I have respect for.”

It is an interesting claim, considering the Russian decided to reemploy Mourinho, despite sacking him after three seasons in charge, in 2007, when he could have appointed an alternative high-profile manager instead.

But Mourinho now faces causing upset, when only his second Premier League club arrive at Chelsea on Sunday, looking to inflict further misery on Chelsea, who have endured some tough results against Liverpool and Arsenal in recent weeks.

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