Jose Mourinho certainly has a history of ratting a few cages, and not least when he at the helm at the Santiago Bernabeu. From annoying officials, to infuriating opposing managers, to alienating his own employees, Mourinho certainly didnt ingratiate himself to La Liga during his three-year spell. Cesc Fabregas was certainly rubbed up the wrong away a couple of times, with the former Arsenal captain clearly not having the foresight that he might one day be working with Mourinho in the future. When Carlo Ancelotti was hired by Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, Fabregas certainly didnt try and mask his glee at the controversial Portuguese having been shown the door.
''Surely now the coach wont get angry because a Real Madrid player talks to a Barca one. Now, what is certain is that we will face another Real Madrid - the previous were at the limit. - Cesc Fabregas, June 2013.
Mourinho couldnt help but push a few more Barcelona buttons, claiming before a Champions League tie against Manchester City last season that it was the poorest Catalan side in recent years. Upon defeating their Mancunian opposition, Fabregas, of course, couldnt help but bite.
''If Mourinhos words had to motivate me, we do not have to play football. Many people want us to fall down and its for that reason they talk too much. They have to shut their mouth some days. - Cesc Fabregas, February 2014.
Just a few months later, and past barbs were seemingly all forgotten, with Fabregas hailing Mourinho as an extraordinary coach, and Mourinho consistently lavishing praise on the man who used to snipe at him on a regular basis. The reason? Fabregas had signed for Chelsea for £27 million.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
