No appeal as Mourinho maintains silence

Chelsea have decided not to appeal against the two-game touchline ban imposed on manager Jose Mourinho because they feared his exile from the dugout would be increased.

Their decision to accept the punishment was met with silence from Mourinho who is understood to be unhappy with the club’s lack of desire to contest UEFA’s ruling.

A spokesman for the Barclays Premiership leaders said: “We can confirm that, following the receipt of the detailed reasons from UEFA, we will not be appealing any of the penalties imposed on the club or any individual.

“As indicated on Friday, we are not happy with that verdict but we accept it. In our view an appeal would interrupt crucial preparations for the Bayern matches and, under the rules, could lead to a further ban for Jose Mourinho. This decision has been taken with that in mind.”

Mourinho was banned for two games by UEFA after they charged him, assistant Steve Clarke and security officer Les Miles with bringing the game into disrepute by falsely claiming that Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard was seen leaving referee Anders Frisk’s dressing room during the interval of their Champions League clash at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho refused to add anything to Chelsea’s statement except to confirm that he would be sitting in the stands during tomorrow’s first leg of the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho said: “I am not on the bench on Wednesday and also next week and it is something that I don’t want to comment or say what I have in myself. It is clear you cannot say too much. I must keep quiet.”

Despite his reticence to speak about Chelsea’s decision, he is already plotting Munich’s downfall.

He added on Chelsea TV: “We are in the quarter-finals. We have seven other teams with the same ambition, with the same belief we have.

“There are four or five with the same power, with the same conditions to win the competition. I think we are ready for it, the same way the players are ready, the staff is ready.

“We went through all the things we have to study for the game. Of course I cannot communicate with them but because of the time we work together, and it is not difficult for them to understand the way I think.

“It will be two big games. I don’t like the players to feel pressure on the first-leg result because you never know what is a good result. We don’t have that kind of pressure where we have to win or not to concede goals.”

Mourinho revealed striker Mikael Forssell would make his return from injury to be on the bench against Bayern on Wednesday.

Forssell cut short a second season on loan at Birmingham after suffering a knee injury which required surgery.

He had not been expected to play again this season but comes in as Dutchman Arjen Robben is injured and Mateja Kezman is suspended.

Mourinho revealed: “Mikael will be on the bench. We don’t have Robben, who is injured, and Kezman is suspended.

“We need strikers for the game and his work is absolutely fantastic. He, the medical department and the fitness coach did a great job to give him a chance to do something for the team.”

Mourinho revealed Forssell’s positive mental approach had helped him make a return to fitness.

“Credit to him because his mentality is fantastic. He is a big help because of his strong mentality,” said Mourinho.