The big news: Mourinho was never close to Chelsea owner

Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho admitted he was never close to Roman Abramovich despite the club’s owner appointing him twice. Mourinho, who will lead his new club Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday to take on his previous employers, said that he and Abramovich shared only a professional relationship.

"We always had the relationship of owner-manager; a very respectful relationship," Mourinho said. "We were never friends. We were never close to each other. So, no, he is just a person that I keep very respected."

Mourinho also accepted that he may receive a hostile reception from Chelsea fans, but said he will not celebrate “like a kid” if United score. Mourinho will be leading a club to play against Chelsea for the first time in a domestic game.

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  1. FC Goa registered their first win of the Indian Super League as they beat Mumbai City FC 1-0 on Friday. Richarlyson scored the only goal of the game as Mumbai slumped to their second loss in their last three games.
  2. Uvena Fernandes achieved the distinction of becoming the first Indian official to take part in a final of a Fifa-affiliated event after being chosen as an assistant for the final of the women's Under-17 World Cup between Japan and North Korea. The Goa-based football official had earlier become the first Indian woman to officiate in a Fifa event and has already officiated three matches in the tournament.
  3. Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was fined for refusing to play for Montreal Impact last weekend. Drogba did not play against Toronto, with coach Mauro Biello saying after the game that the forward did not want to be benched. Major League Soccer have fined Drogba an unspecified amount "for his failure to appear".
  4. Neymar has committed himself to play for Barcelona by signing a new five-year contract, committing him to the club until 2021. The 24-year-old Brazil international agreed to ink the deal, which increases his release clause to 200 million euros (£178 million), on July 1. The clause rises to 222 million euros in the second year and 250 million euros for the final three.