Warnock will be taking on the man he has described as the rightful heir to Brian Clough when Palace host unbeaten leaders Chelsea in a Premier League London derby.

The 65-year-old has vast admiration for the tactical nous and man-management skills of Mourinho and has compared the Portuguese to his managerial hero Clough.

"In my eyes Jose is the nearest thing to Cloughie really. Jose's the same type - a players' manager," Warnock said.

"When I was growing up as a young manager, I thought Cloughie had everything.

"I had a couple of afternoons with him on my own and I enjoyed his company. He talked a lot of sense.

"Yes he upset a few people here and there, but his philosophy was very good.

"And I like Jose. I think he is the best there is - I always have done. He looks after his players. You don't get anywhere without being a players' manager.

"You only have to listen to people like John Terry and Frank Lampard and what they think about him. Didier Drogba coming back in. I just like the way he's gone about it while he's been in the game.

"And I like it when he's the underdog because he's not always the favourite. He's the underdog in some games. People are waiting to write him off because he gets the result. He's always tactically astute.

"Jose talks about players going through brick walls for him and yet they're not in his pockets. He says it how it is, his team always want to play well and tactically and when it comes to the tough games, I think he's spot on."