SWANSEA CITY'S MANAGER SAYS HE WILL SHAKE HANDS WITH MOURINHO

Swansea City boss Garry Monk says he will shake hands with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Swansea City: Garry Monk will shake Jose Mourinho's hand

Mourinho did not shake Monk's hand after the Blues' 1-0 Premier League win at the Liberty Stadium in April.

Monk says he will still show respect to the former Real Madrid manager regardless of what happens.

"I always offer my hand; win, lose or draw, that's the way it should be," said Monk, 35.

Chelsea's victory away at the Welsh club last season helped keep their Premier League title hopes alive, moving them two points behind then leaders Liverpool with four matches to go in the 2013-14 season.

Chico Flores, who was a Swans defender at the time, was sent off early on after picking up two yellow cards inside 120 seconds.

Monk complained at the time that the defender only saw red following Chelsea pressure on the fourth official and the referee Phil Dowd.

"I'm probably not the only one who Mourinho hasn't shaken hands with after the game so it's no big deal," said Monk.

"I respect him highly, he's a top manager, a very respected person within football and I'll always offer my hand.

"He's won titles on a world level, the highest level. He's in that bracket of the very elite, where they are winning things on a regular basis."

Chelsea and Swansea have both won their first three Premier League matches of 2014-15 with Mourinho's side top on goal difference.

Monk says his team will have to be at their very best to get anything out of the game against the side he is tipping for the title.

"Chelsea have got quality players all over the pitch and there's a lot more strengths than weaknesses," said Monk.

"Personally I think they'll be pretty much the favourites for the title this season. But that's a good test for us.

"We have to be at our very best in order to warrant winning any points."

BBC Sport