Last updated at 22:04pm on 29th April 2007
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Jose Mourinho responded to seeing Manchester United all but snatch Chelsea’s Premiership title by launching another astonishing attack on Cristiano Ronaldo — this time insulting his family and ridiculing his lack of education.
Mourinho accused United winger Ronaldo, who is also Portuguese, of "not showing maturity and respect" and attributed that to a "difficult childhood" with "no education".
Chelsea’s manager has become embroiled in a war of words with the double PFA Player of the Year after complaining that United led a charmed life when it came to penalty decisions.
Ronaldo replied that Mourinho "does not know how to admit his own failures" and the Stamford Bridge boss reacted by branding the 22-year-old "a liar".
Then, in the aftermath of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at home to Bolton on Saturday which saw them slip five points behind Premiership leaders United, Mourinho was asked about comments Sir Alex Ferguson had made in response to the row.
Mourinho said: "It’s a game where a kid had some statements not very . . . not showing maturity and respect, maybe difficult childhood, no education, maybe the consequence of that. Sir Alex felt he had to protect his boy. But normal things . . . I have no problems with him (Ferguson). I have no problem with the boy." Ferguson will not appreciate the remarks about his player, who had an impoverished background in Madeira, from someone who had a privileged upbringing and a university education. Ronaldo’s father Dinnis, a council gardener, died from kidney problems after a long battle against alcoholism. His mother Dolores was forced to take jobs as a cleaner and a cook and Ronaldo grew up in a tiny, tin-roofed shack.
Mourinho also came under subtle attack from Rafa Benitez, whose Liverpool side will seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit when they play Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal at Anfield tomorrow.
Benitez claimed Mourinho is under severe pressure, saying: "Chelsea have spent more money than anyone else in the world in the last five years. They have spent millions and they need to win trophies. If they cannot win the league now they will be under real pressure.
"They are the favourites. We are the underdogs." Mourinho, meanwhile, is understood to be unimpressed that his German midfielder Michael Ballack chose to have surgery on Friday night on an ankle injury that will rule him out for 10 days, jeopardising his chances of appearing in key end-of-season matches.
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