Former Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez made a veiled attack on new Blues boss Jose Mourinho over the way he handled himself during his three-year reign at Real Madrid.
Mourinho has a trouble-filled spell with Real, and was constantly criticized by the Spanish media for the way he acted during his time with the club.
Benitez, who came up from the ranks of Real Madrid, before playing for them as well as later coaching their 'B' side Castilla, believes there are certain values and standards that he was brought up with as a Real Madrid man.
"I joined Madrid's academy when I was 13 and learned everything there," he told AS. "I received a sporting education from Madrid and I was taught to show respect and dignity towards the opponents whether we won or lost."
Benitez, who is now with Napoli, had his own problems with Mourinho during the Spaniard's time with Liverpool and the latter's first spell with Chelsea. Benitez seemed to suggest Mourinho's win-at-all-costs approach was not something to be admired.
"I don't know what Mourinho does, he added. "I know what I do: I always want to win, without crossing the line of sportsmanship.
"It's true that I get on better with some coaches than others and I align myself with those that don't value winning at any cost."
Benitez was appointed Chelsea interim manager under much criticism from the fans. However, despite facing a constant backlash, the Spaniard acquitted himself reasonably well, sealing a third-place finish in the English Premier League, while also winning the Europa League.
The final months of the season was filled with rumors of a sensational return for Mourinho to Stamford Bridge and Benitez believes he went about his job pretty well despite at the club everyone knowing that the "Special One" was about to return.
"Everyone at Chelsea knew that Mourinho was going to come back at the end of the season," he said.
"But that didn't take away any of my ambition or willingness to achieve our objectives and we won the Europa League, which says a lot about the seamless commitment of that sensational team."
Mourinho is set to be replaced at Real Madrid by another former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez, who himself was hoping to land the job at the Bernabeu, has no doubts that the Italian will succeed.
"I know him well from Milan because of the finals in Athens and Istanbul and we had a very good relationship when we were both in the Premier League," Benitez said.
"I think it's the correct choice because he will be a conciliator in the dressing room and inside the club. I think the club will appreciate that change."
