Blatter defends 'outstanding' Mourinho

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has defended outspoken Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, insisting football needs all the characters it can get.

The Portuguese has been involved in a verbal exchange over the last fortnight with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, with the game’s authorities in this country urging the pair to settle their differences.

Blatter believes Mourinho should be checked if he steps out of line but feels sometimes “personalities” like the Blues boss can be tolerated.

“We should be proud and happy in football to have outstanding personalities,” the Swiss told Sky Sports News.

“Outstanding personalities, from time to time, say some things they shouldn’t say but it is not so detrimental to the game.

“I would say our game needs such personalities. Not only on the field of play but also as coaches.

“Really, if he’s not behaving well, you have the disciplinary committees in England and they can assess the situation. I would like to have more Mourinhos in our game.”

Blatter again backed Manchester United fans who opposed American tycoon Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of the club earlier this year.

“This is another problem that will be assessed,” he said.

“You have shares available, someone is buying them, they have the majority and we don’t know what this American investor wants to do about football.

“You have seen the reaction of the fans of Manchester. I congratulate them for this reaction. This is one of the problems we will go into.”