This battle between Mrs. Benitez and Jose Mourinho just got real.
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Rafael Benitez’s wife, Montserrat Seara, was quoted as saying her husband is “tidying up” another Mourinho “mess” after her husband was appointed as Real Madrid’s new manager earlier this summer.
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Mourinho left Real in 2013 to take charge of Chelsea for a second spell, but Benitez had previously managed both Inter Milan and Chelsea after Mourinho. However, at Chelsea there were six managers in-between Mourinho and Benitez -- Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Gus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo -- and at Real Madrid Benitez has just taken over after Carlo Ancelotti had two years in charge.
Mourinho spoke to the press after Chelsea’s International Champions Cup win over Barcelona on Tuesday and had the following to say about the claims from Mrs. Benitez.
Ouch. Mourinho has bitten back with some serious venom.
Of course, there is no love lost between “The Special One” and Benitez, as their rivalry dates back to the intense battles for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League trophies with Chelsea and Liverpool.
The barb about Benitez “destroying” Inter Milan in six months will be particularly hurtful to the Spanish coach, as he replaced a beloved Mourinho at the San Siro and was fired within six months for plunging the reigning European Champions down the Serie A standings. Even if Chelsea and Inter did falter after Mourinho left, could the blame really be placed at his door for their struggles after the fact?
Even if Mourinho and Mrs. Benitez are just having a bit of fun via the media, it will be pretty interesting to see the exchanges between Mourinho and Rafael Benitez if Chelsea face Real Madrid in the Champions League this season, won’t it? Oh, Jose.
