Ranieri said on the weekend: "Unlike Mourinho I don't need to win to be sure about what I am doing.

"I can take a defeat because last year we lost a few and we always managed to react."

Mourinho has issued his own rebuke with a sniping attack on Ranieri.

"Ranieri was right, I do need to win things to be sure of what I am doing," the Portuguese boss said.

"That's why I have won so many trophies in my career. By contrast he has the mentality that winning isn't crucial and at nearly 70-years-old he has just won a Super Cup and other small tournaments. He is too old to change his mentality."