Jose Mourinho was spat at and subjected to verbal abuse as Chelsea received a hostile welcome in Barcelona as they arrived to prepare for Tuesday's Champions League showdown.

Former Barca coach Mourinho angered Catalan supporters by accusing Lionel Messi of "play-acting" in the first leg at Stamford Bridge in order to get Asier del Horno sent off, with Chelsea ultimately losing 2-1.

The Barcelona fans at the airport jeered and jostled the Blues boss when he arrived from London and spat at him and the team bus.

Mourinho responded by smiling and applauding sarcastically.

Chelsea TV cameraman Kieren Startup, filming the scene, told the club's official website: "There were very few police to marshal it, and they didn't seem interested once the players got on the coach to stop any abuse.

"It was intimidating, there was a lot of aggressive chanting at Mourinho to begin with, but he ignored it and then they moved on to angry gestures and spitting.

"Everyone else on the coach seemed to be unbothered."