Mourinho making more mischief for rivals

PREMIER LEAGUE:

The self-proclaimed Special One insists Chelsea were third favourites behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City after Monday’s 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium which ended City’s 100% home record.

Mourinho maintained that stance ahead of today’s clash with Newcastle when asked if he was engaged in a psychological battle with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini.

“Everything I say is mind games,” Mourinho said. “Everything I do is mind games. Everything is mind games. The only thing that is not mind games is the results. That’s not mind games.”

Mourinho again took the opportunity to suggest Arsenal and City are performing below his expectations.

“We are there (in title contention) because we are doing very well or because maybe Man City and Arsenal are not doing as well as they should with the conditions they have,” Mourinho said.

However he insisted: “we are not a squad like Man City’s with every player in the best moment of their careers, all of them working together for quite a long time. A manager (Manuel Pellegrini) that arrived and the team was there ready for him.

“Arsenal are the biggest example of the stability, the biggest example of a manager (Arsene Wenger) working with players year after year. We are different. We are beginning. In the first day of the next pre-season I will say yes we are there and we accept that Chelsea as a candidate. Today, no.”

One man who may not be at Blues pre-season next season is left-back Ashley Cole, who is out of contract at the end of the season, with former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry reportedly telling him to move to MLS’s New York Red Bulls. Mourinho, who currently favours Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back, added: “He has (a future at Chelsea), but maybe Thierry has a better proposal.”

Mourinho also criticised Alvaro Negredo’s conduct in Chelsea’s win at City and stated his belief that players who feign injury or try get an opponent sent off should be disciplined in the same manner as players who commit major fouls.

The Chelsea boss was angry at an incident in Monday’s win when City striker Negredo was competing for an aerial ball with Nemanja Matic, who had already been booked.

“He was trying to get Matic sent off,” Mourinho said. “He knew Matic had a yellow card. Matic jumped just in front of me in a very clean way, and the other guy immediately (holds his face).

“He was trying (for a) second yellow card... if (there was) no yellow card for Matic, then for me yellow card for the other guy. He deserves the punishment if he’s trying to get the guy sent off.”

Mourinho, who refused to be drawn on reports Chelsea will bid to sign Edinson Cavani from Paris St Germain in the summer, is still without striker Fernando Torres (knee) against Newcastle. Mohamed Salah could make his debut.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew dismissed Mourinho’s claims Chelsea are not genuine contenders. He said: “I don’t believe that for one minute – and I think deep down, nor does Jose.”

Newcastle head for the capital in disarray with injuries and suspensions, Joe Kinnear’s departure as director of football and Yohan Cabaye’s exit all hindering Pardew.