The Chelsea boss appeared to question his striker's age earlier this season and the star has now claimed the Portuguese can become a different person in the build-up to matches
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o has claimed Jose Mourinho “sometimes loses his mind” in the build-up to big matches.

The Blues boss oversaw an impressive 6-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, which pushed the club four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

But Mourinho was caught out earlier this season, as he appeared to call Eto'o old during a sponsor's event in Nyon – and was unaware he was being filmed.

But the Cameroon striker has now put the jibe down to Mourinho putting too much pressure on himself.

"He becomes someone else in the build-up to matches,” he told BeIn Sport. “Like any human being, he sometimes loses his mind.

“He proved it sometimes like when he did it with me [by calling me old] but he takes all the pressure on himself.”

Eto'o also discussed his fall-out with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola – whom he claims wanted to send him to Uzbekistan.

The pair rowed during their time at Camp Nou and Eto'o believes he was shown a “total lack of respect” by the Spaniard, who often used Thierry Henry ahead of the current Blues star in the starting line-up.

“Guardiola has never been a great player, he was just a good player. I told him. He didnt prove anything when he arrived and he said certain things,” Eto'o blasted.

“What hurt me is that they invent things that the press relayed . They wanted to send me to Uzbekistan. I stayed at my place and I told him that he will apologize for that in the future .

“He gave the number 9 to Henry . Henry was happy. And it was a total lack of respect. I had done a lot for the club.

“Guardiola has never had the courage to say things in front of me. He passed by the players. Xavi told me they wanted me to stay but I had to talk to Pep . I say never, if you do not respect me, I do not respect you.

“He shook hands with me when I was at Inter and I played against Barça, but this was just for the cameras and TV. Behind the scenes before the match, he did not greet me."