Mourinho won't respond over Holland's Robben complaint

Jose Mourinho has opted to maintain a dignified silence following criticism of his handling of Dutch winger Arjen Robben by Holland coach Marco van Basten.

Van Basten reckons Robben’s chances of making a full recovery from his hamstring injury would be better served by Mourinho if he chose not to rush the player back into action.

The winger is currently sidelined with the complaint, which Mourinho says stems from his back, and the problem affected him badly during the defeat to Real Betis in the Champions League.

“It would be better if Chelsea help him and had more patience with him,” he said. “Let him recover fully, even if that takes two to three weeks, so his body is 100% okay.

“Arjen is a very important player for us and we hope he recovers soon.

“Only then will he be able to play whole matches over a long period. This is necessary as he will be a very important player for us in the World Cup.”

Mourinho, who has been involved in a highly public spat with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in recent weeks, chose not to comment about van Basten’s remarks.

Clearly mindful of sparking off yet another row, the Portuguese coach preferred to concentrate on training with the remainder of his first-team squad at their Cobham training complex this morning.

Mourinho has been full of praise for Chelsea’s medical department in recent weeks, particularly over the return to fitness of Damien Duff against Real Betis.

Duff underwent keyhole surgery on a cartilage problem at the beginning of October and but was back in training two weeks later and made his first-team return during the defeat in Seville.

Meanwhile Chelsea defender William Gallas claims he is fed up with switching positions for France after he was asked to switch to a number of roles against Costa Rica in midweek.

It is the latest problem for Gallas who has often been moved around Jose Mourinho’s back four at Chelsea.

He spent much of last season in an unfamiliar left-back role after Wayne Bridge fractured his ankle playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup against Newcastle last February.

His preferred position is in the centre of defence where, alongside skipper and England international John Terry, he has excelled for the Barclays Premiership champions.

Now it would appear the Blues star is facing identical frustration at international level with coach Raymond Domenech asking him to play in three different positions in midweek.

Gallas insists he is happy to play in any position that is not normally regarded as his speciality but finds it difficult to switch roles during a game.

“I am happy with the win for the team,” he said. “But, on a personal level, it is becoming a big frustration because, in the end, there is no happiness.

“I am fed up. I need to settle. I am keen to play in a position that is not mine, but I can’t change twice in a single match.

“I can’t be just satisfied by playing. I need to settle to go on improving. I can’t go any further being dragged along that way.”

Meanwhile Argentinian midfield starlet Fernando Gago, of Boca Juniors, has been linked with a move to Chelsea.

Chelsea’s head of development and scouting, Frank Arnesen, first spotted £5m-rated Gago at the World Youth Championships in Holland where he helped his side win the tournament.