Mourinho: I have no problem with Benitez

CAIRO – 18November 2017: José Mourinho, coach of Manchester United, denied on Thursday having a problem with his counterpart at Newcastle United, Rafa Benitez, who he respects a lot.

Tension in the relationship between Mourinho and Benitez has been well known since 2005, after a dispute in a Champions League semi-final, when the former trained Chelsea and the latter Liverpool, after a controversial goal by Luis García, Liverpool`s player, in Anfield that eliminated Chelsea.

In the years to come, during which the two directed Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan, both met and exchanged bad words on numerous occasions.

However, Mourinho has categorically denied having a problem with Benitez and has assured that the rivalry is not between them, but purely "between the clubs."

"I don't think the rivalry was with Rafael; I think the rivalry was between our clubs rather than between us,” Mourinho told Sky Sports News.

"We are managers from the same generation. We came to England in the same season and we were both successful in the European competitions,” he continued.

"Not many [managers have] won the Champions League and Europa League. We are some of the few managers that did it,” he said.

Mourinho, who has won only one Premier League title with Chelsea, is set to meet Benitez with his newly promoted team, Newcastle United, in the eleventh round of the Premier League.