Jose's 'real' snub for Ronaldo but star refuses to rise to mischievous Mourinho's latest barb as Madrid and Chelsea gear up for grudge match

By John Drayton

Published: 02:20 EST, 5 August 2013 | Updated: 07:33 EST, 5 August 2013

Jose Mourinho has described the former Brazil and Barcelona striker as the 'real' Ronaldo - risking the wrath of his former player of the same name ahead of Wednesday's crunch clash between Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Blues boss Mourinho appeared to be belittling his countryman Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with ESPN over the weekend.

'I was manager for the first time in 2000 but, before that, I was assistant in big clubs and with big managers and coaching the best players in the world, so I was 30 and I was coaching Ronaldo, not this one [Cristiano], the real one, the Brazilian Ronaldo,' Mourinho said.

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Barb: Jose Mourinho (left) directs Cristiano Ronaldo (right) during the tie against Manchester United

'I was coaching Rivaldo, I was coaching [Luis] Figo, I was coaching [Pep] Guardiola, I was coaching big players when I was very, very young.

'So, at that time, I was not the manager, I was just an assistant but I was feeling that I had, in my hands, some potential and after that I start my career in the year 2000 and after four years I won my first Champions League and, after that, everything comes as a consequence.'

He also criticised the philosophy at his former club Real. During the interview, he declared: 'Madrid is politics. Madrid is not about football, Madrid is not about sport.'

Friend or foe? Ronaldo and Mourinho stood apart in the tunnel before one of the coach's final Madrid games

Blossoming: Despite their differences, Ronaldo has had a remarkable three seasons under Mourinho (right)

Star struck? Ronaldo is in LA with Real Madrid and put in some time with one young fan in the city

Nice work: Ronaldo is congratulated by Mesut Ozil (centre) and Sami Khedira after he opened the scoring against Everton at the weekend

Asked what he had made of his former coach's comments, Ronaldo responded: 'There are some things in life that don't deserve any mention. This is one of those things and I won't comment on it for obvious reasons. I always respect my coaches and try to learn from them.

'As we say in Portugal, "I don't spit on the plate I eat on." That's how I feel. I prefer to try and remember the positive side [to Mourinho].'

And Ronaldo denied Madrid will be desperate to get one over their former boss when they meet Chelsea in Miami.

He declared: 'We are facing Chelsea, not their coach. Although it's like any other game, we want to win.'

Relations between Mourinho and Ronaldo became frayed towards the end of the former Porto and Inter manager’s reign at Madrid.

Mourinho’s most recent barb isn’t the first time he has taken a pop at the £80million signing as last week, he said: ‘I had only one problem with him [Cristiano Ronaldo], very simple, very basic, which was when a coach criticises a player from a tactical viewpoint trying to improve what in my view could have been improved.

‘And at that moment he didn't take it very well because maybe he thinks he knows everything and the coach cannot help him to develop more.’

Mischief making: Mourinho, who watched his Chelsea team beat AC Milan in America, described the former Brazil and Barcelona striker as the 'real' Ronaldo

Real deal: Ronaldo celebrates netting against Germany in the 2002 World Cup final