It’s just one game, says Jose

SLUMPING back in his chair in the Stamford Bridge press conference room yesterday, Jose Mourinho scoffed at the notion Chelsea took a major step towards another Premiership title with their 1-0 over London rivals Arsenal.

And he was equally dismissive of Alex Ferguson’s suggestion Manchester United had lost the championship on the same day, by the same score in the same venue, last season.

“I don’t think they lost the championship here. And I don’t think Arsenal lost the championship today. Of course, if you want to say that and put more pressure on them, I appreciate that,” Mourinho grinned.

“The result of this game doesn’t make us champions and it doesn’t mean that the losers can’t be champions,” he patiently explained, lest any of the more excitable scribes would feel inclined to call the title race two games in.

“It’s just one game, it’s three points and there are dozens and dozens of matches to play this season. I thought Arsenal played reasonably well so there is no reason for them after this game to feel they cannot do it. I would love them not to do it and to give up now but I think they have a good team and if I was in the losing side today, I would not panic.”

For his own side, Mourinho totted up the plusses.

“Second consecutive victory, two clean sheets, six points. The first game we played bad, the second game we were okay. Our organisation was much better and it’s very similar to last season. We beat Manchester United at home one zero and then we went to Birmingham and had a lucky victory like in Wigan. Very similar. So we know that we will improve. The foundations are there.”

Mourinho admitted Chelsea’s winner was “a lucky goal” but thought that while there was little to choose between the two teams, his just about deserved victory on the number of chances created.

And he spoke “for the last time” about Ricardo Carvalho, insisting that there was no comparison with recent critical comments about team selection made by Arjen Robben.

“They are completely different. I knew about Arjen’s comments before I read about them in the press. The only problem is they came after Riccy’s situation and so you could produce headlines to sell more papers.”

But with Joe Cole not even on the bench yesterday, is there not a danger player unrest will become a recurring theme of Chelsea’s season?

“If you can help me get from the FA seven subs instead of five like every other country in the world, I would be jumping. If we were in Spain or Portugal or Germany or Italy, I would have had Joe Cole on the bench.”

And with a smirk he was gone, to be replaced by a man who might like to have half his problems. For Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, the theme of the day was self-belief.

“I’m disappointed because I feel we gave a very cheap goal away. But the whole level of the game was not satisfying for me. I expected a much better game.

“We lacked a fraction of belief which I hope we get from this because we go home very frustrated. I hope that the team realises that we can do much better when we believe. I think the team can strengthen their belief on that performance. They are disappointed that we gave the game away but I don’t think there was a difference of quality between the two sides.”

He dismissed the suggestion that, post-Patrick Vieira, Arsenal might have to accept this is going to be a transitional season for the club.

“I don’t accept that because I feel we have a lot of potential. It’s only the second game of the season and the future will tell us how big our ambition is. My ambition is very high for this team and I do not accept that it is a transitional season. That is not how I see my job. I want this season to be a great season for the club. I hope today has the reverse effect of Old Trafford last year and that it can be the starting point of real desire and belief in the team that they can do well.”