Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho Mourinho jibe rubs salt into Arsene Wenger wound
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has fanned the flames following his team’s fiery 2-0 Premier League victory over Arsenal on Saturday, saying that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is underachieving given the talent at his disposal.
Mourinho had already taken his customary swipe at Wenger straight after the match, accusing the Frenchman of persistent moaning when he said that Chelsea striker Diego Costa should have been sent off.
Costa was involved in altercations with several Arsenal players, including defender Gabriel who, along with midfielder Santi Cazorla, was shown red as Arsenal finished with nine men.
“I think Arsenal has the squad to be champions,” Mourinho said, when asked for his thoughts on Wenger.
“And every season I feel that. I just tell you that I like every player. I tell you if one of their players is a free agent and they don’t want him there, I get every one. I like all of their players.”
Wenger has called on the FA to take retrospective action against Costa, who appeared to push Laurent Koscielny in the face and swing his arm at the France defender before clashing with Gabriel.
“Yes, of course [the FA should act]. They do it for everybody,” he said. “I would like them, especially [referee] Mike Dean, to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision.”
Arsenal face a trip to local rivals Tottenham in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, coming off the back of two defeats during which they have had players sent off. Last week Olivier Giroud was red-carded as the Gunners lost 2-1 at Dinamo Zagreb.
“It’s true that we played the last two games with 10 men in the second half and I hope we play one with 11 versus 11,” Wenger joked. “It’s another derby and that’s not guaranteed as well.”
Reigning Capital One Cup winners Chelsea travel to Walsall on Wednesday.