Chelsea's Antonio Conte suggests Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has senile dementia

Mourinho appeared to take a swipe at the Italian - and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp - for their antics in the technical area at his United press conference on Thursday

Antonio Conte hit back at Jose Mourinho on Friday by suggesting the Manchester United boss has senile dementia.

Mourinho, who has had two spells as Chelsea boss and is Conte's immediate predecessor, appeared to take a swipe at the Italian - and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp - for their antics in the technical area at his United press conference on Thursday when he said he did not feel the need to behave like "a clown" on the touchline.

Asked about Mourinho's comments on Friday, Conte used the Italian phrase "demenza senile" in relation to the Portuguese, which translates as senile dementia.

Conte said: "I think he has to see himself in the past - maybe he was speaking about himself in the past. Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what's said in the past, which is his behaviour.

"Sometimes I think there is, I don't know the name, but demenza senile... when you forget what you do in the past."

Conte is in his second season as Chelsea head coach, like Mourinho is at United.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea for a second time in December 2015 and the Blues finished 10th, with Conte guiding them to the title in his first season as boss.

Conte added of the Portuguese: "There is a person that continues to look here. You understand? He went away, but he continued to look here."

Conte and Mourinho have a fiery relationship (AFP)

The Italian, whose side play at Norwich in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, described the verbal sparring between Premier League bosses as "very strange".

He added: "I don't like to speak about the other coach, about the other players. I think it's a form of respect."