Jose Mourinho says he will shake Roman Abramovich's hand ahead of Chelsea return with Manchester United
Football
By
Mirror
| Oct 21, 2016
Jose Mourinho says he will shake Roman Abramovich's hand when he returns to Chelsea on Sunday.
The Manchester United boss was sacked for the second time by Russian tycoon Abramovich last season after a poor run of form.
Mourinho says that he respects the decision from Abramovich to relieve him of his duties at Stamford Bridge - but insists the pair were never close friends.
However, Mourinho is keen to maintain a professional relationship with the Chelsea owner.
United travel to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon hoping to build on their 4-1 win over Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
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Abramovich is known to walk down the tunnel on matchdays and Mourinho his expecting to see him again this weekend.
"I would shake his hand," he said to Sky Sports. "I would ask him how his kids are."
Mourinho claims that he never had a friendship with Abramovich during his time at Chelsea and their relationship was merely a working one.
Asked if he had spoken to Abramovich since he had left Chelsea, Mourinho said: "No. But we always kept that kind of relation. He was respected like that.
"I was the manager and I was respected like that. We were never close friends.
"If I go to his house, I go for professional reasons and for a professional meeting.
"If we see each other, it is only because of that, we would not share anything personal.
"We were not friends, maybe because I was respectful to the position of owner and maybe because his profile and relation to the manager.
"We did not have problems, but we were not close.
"When he made his decision that I was not the man for his club, it is the power that he has and I just have to accept that."