Robson fires Mourinho warning as Baggies prepare for upset

WEST BROM manager Bryan Robson has warned Jose Mourinho that Chelsea could become the most hated club in England if he continues to wind up every section of the football hierarchy.

Robson is seething at weekend comments made by Mourinho and Blues skipper John Terry ahead of tonight's Premiership with the Baggies at Stamford Bridge.

Robson is upset at reports in which Mourinho and Terry claimed that they wanted to "annihilate" opponents.

And Robson believes Mourinho's arrogance would be more acceptable if Chelsea had matched the achievements of Manchester United and Arsenal during the past decade.

Robson said: "I just hope our players have looked at the reports over the weekend where Mourinho and Terry say they are not content at just beating teams but want to annihilate them. That is an insult.

"That winds me up and hopefully that winds my players up. I am sure there are players in other teams who look at those sort of comments and think the same.

"People play these mind games and sometimes they come out with stuff which is good but sometimes it can be detrimental to you.

"We will find out the way my lads play against them and the way other teams play against Chelsea for the rest of the season when they are coming out with comments like that.

"But the way they are winding people up a lot, then maybe they will become a club where people dislike them if the comments keep coming out.

"They will be the first ones to fall flat on their face if they don't get the results. If you keep winding people up from all different walks of life in football referees, officials, fans, players, reporters etc they will start disliking you and the tag will stick."

Robson added: "I don't think it has been a calculated thing by Mourinho. I don't think you can be as clever as that. It is his natural character where he comes out with things which he probably thinks help his players.

"There are certain things you keep in the dressing room. I've played in great teams where people don't come out with things which undermine other teams and I think what was said at the weekend does undermine other teams in the Premiership.

"People disliked Manchester United because of the charisma that surrounds the club and they were successful year in and year out and after a while people got fed up with that.

"Arsenal got that a little bit as well when they won the double and then kept winning trophies and people were saying: 'I'd sooner someone else win it'.

"Chelsea are getting a bit of a tag like that but they haven't won anything for quite a few years. It is a different tag to what United and Arsenal had.

"If Chelsea win doubles, trebles, year in and year out then you can maybe talk about yourselves a bit more."

West Brom have already sprung a surprise in London this season in forcing a 1-1 draw at Arsenal and Robson knows they will have to adopt the same approach tonight.

He said: "If you are disciplined and work really hard for each other and get a few breaks, you can get a result.

"That's what I'll be after from my players a hard-working, disciplined performance and hopefully we'll get the breaks and if Chelsea are off colour, then we can beat them."

Robson has a full squad to pick from, except for long-term injury victim Andy Johnson.

Chelsea are likely to recall Dutchman Arjen Robben, who has recovered from two minor fractures in his foot. Midfielder Scott Parker is also available.