Jose Mourinho: This is my biggest final yet

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims his history counts for nothing as he faces into the “most important” cup final of his career.

Mourinho has twice won the League Cup with Chelsea, but is bidding for a first trophy of his second spell in charge on Sunday.

The two-time Champions League winner, who has won the domestic championships in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, said: “This cup final is the most important cup final of my career. More important than the Champions League. More important than the other cups I’ve played before.

“This is the most important one, because it’s the next one.

“The other ones are in the club museum. My medals are somewhere at home. I don’t know where they are.

“The most important game of my career is the next one, no doubts about it.

“I don’t care about medals. I care about the club winning trophies and me and the players winning trophies.”

Mourinho believes the credibility of English football is at stake if decisions like the one which saw Nemanja Matic banned and Ashley Barnes escape punishment recur.

Blues midfielder Matic will miss Sunday’s Capital One Cup final with Tottenham after his sending off in last weekend’s Premier League clash with Burnley, when he took exception to a challenge by Barnes which Mourinho later called “criminal”.

Mourinho has spoken of a “clear campaign” against his Chelsea side this season and thinks the fact Matic was banned by the FA but that Barnes can play on undermines English football’s long-standing fair-play status.

“We must take care of our football,” Mourinho said.

“It’s not about how many millions are watching on television. It’s about the feeling and respect and credibility, what people think about it.

“Strong credibility. This is something English football cannot lose. You lose credibility when a player like Matic is suspended, and another player can play this weekend.

“I don’t think you can have any doubt that all around the world people open their mouths with surprise at how this can be possible.”

Mourinho hopes Sunday’s final is not affected by controversy after struggling with the accumulation of perceived errors against his side. “It’s easy to cope with a mistake,” the Blues boss added.

“It’s not easy to cope with lots of mistakes. It’s not easy. We try. Hopefully the final is a good final.”

Mourinho joked Chelsea’s new shirt sponsor Yokohama Rubber will provide Eden Hazard’s new shinpads, after complaining about persistent fouling on the Belgium star.

“A mixture of Yokohama rubber with carbon fibre and some steel,” Mourinho said.

The Blues boss does not expect the reported £40m per season deal to impact on Chelsea’s activity in the transfer market.

He said: “It’s a good deal, a fantastic deal, but not a deal that will change forever Chelsea’s way of life and thinking.

“We always try to be balanced in everything we do.”

Mourinho was speaking 10 years to the day since winning his first trophy as Chelsea boss, following a 3-2 defeat of Liverpool in the 2005 League Cup final.

Chelsea went on to win the championship for the first time in 50 years that season and this term are bidding for a first Premier League title in five years.

The Blues are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who tomorrow have an opportunity to cut the gap to two points with victory at Liverpool.

Mourinho, who is bidding for a third League Cup, says he is thinking only of his own game at Wembley.

“Since I arrived in July 2013 it’s the first time I don’t think about the future of this club,” Mourinho added.

“I just think about the moment. I just think about this game. We have a final to win on Sunday and nothing else matters. I don’t think it’s because you win the cup final you win the league. I don’t think because you lose the cup final you lose the league. I don’t see connections.”

Chelsea beat Spurs 3-0 on December 3 at Stamford Bridge, but in the return fixture on New Year’s Day lost 5-3 at White Hart Lane.

And the Blues lost to Tottenham in the 2008 final.

Asked if the fact the contest is a London derby gives it added significance, Mourinho said: “A final is a final. To be a London club for me doesn’t add anything to the game.”

Chelsea have appealed to their supporters to behave following the appalling scenes on the Paris Metro.

“Chelsea is a big club and the supporters know how to enjoy moments like cup finals,” Mourinho added.