'Jose Cried All Of Last Season'  (Sky Sports)

Jose Mourinho's perceived criticism of Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is surprising after he spent "all of last season" crying at Manchester United, says Charlie Nicholas.

Following United's 1-0 victory over Benfica on Wednesday, Mourinho criticised managers who "cry and cry and cry" about injuries, which was seen as a jibe at the man who followed him as Chelsea boss.

Conte responded to Mourinho's comments after Chelsea's 3-3 draw against Roma by telling the Portuguese to focus on his own team and to stop talking about his former club.

Nicholas was in agreement with Conte and revealed he was confused by Mourinho's comments, complaining about other managers moaning, when he "cried all last year" at Old Trafford.

"I accept (Antonio) Conte's response," Nicholas told Premier League Daily.

"He (Mourinho) cried all last year and all of last season at Manchester United. He actually got it to a fine art at one stage, he always looked miserable and still looks like he's miserable.

"He likes to take on the world and play this, 'I'm the enemy,' card and he's very talented at it. But where this comes from (I don't know), I mean I hear him moan all the time.

"He signed Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) when he was injured, but he can't stop that he's injured and that's something he doesn't moan about, but why say it?"

Questions have been asked about United's style under Mourinho following last week's cagey 0-0 draw against Liverpool.

Nicholas believes Mourinho's war of words with Conte has been manufactured by the 54-year-old to create a distraction from the criticism.

"It's camouflage, its deflection, it's a spin of some kind. The thing is Manchester United are being asked questions about their style, I don't (ask questions), it's not an Alex Ferguson style this is a Mourinho style and he's brilliant at it," Nicholas added.

"If he'd taken nothing from Anfield, he'd have been absolutely slaughtered, but he got a result and a good result for them and then he wins in Benfica - they didn't play well again.

"What he's doing is saying, 'I'm not moaning about it', but I keep hearing him talking about Fellaini and Pogba.

"They spent a fortune over the summer, making the squad stronger and I think before a ball was kicked this season we all asked, 'who's got the strongest squad?' and I think we all said Manchester United."