Mourinho hit back brutally that night by referencing Conte's four-month ban in 2012-13 for failing to report match fixing—Conte was cleared of all wrongdoing in 2016—but any notions that the row might fizzle out were rapidly dispelled after Chelsea's 0-0 FA Cup draw at Norwich.
"I think before you make this type of comment, to hurt another person, you must pay great attention. You show you are a little man. A little man. You (Mourinho) don't know very well what is the situation," he added.
The astonishing outburst continued with a citation of Mourinho's behaviour towards his close friend Claudio Ranieri. Mourinho had previously mocked Ranieri and yet wore his 'CR' initials on his training top in solidarity when he was sacked by Leicester.