Everton welcome 'common sense' in Johnson row

Everton believe that “common sense” has prevailed in their war of words with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The Merseysiders were intent on legal action against the controversial Stamford Bridge chief following his comments on England striker Andrew Johnson at the weekend.

Three days after Mourinho doubted Johnson’s motives when he went down in a challenge with Chelsea pair Hilario and Khalid Boulahrouz in Sunday’s 3-2 win for the champions, the Portuguese coach has been forced into what amounts to an embarrassing climbdown.

Everton have restricted their words following Mourinho’s apology, published on Chelsea’s website, to chief executive Keith Wyness, who said: “Common sense has prevailed and this is an end to the matter.

“The relationship between ourselves and Chelsea has always been admirable and that, I feel certain, will continue.”

Privately, Everton sources see this as a watershed in the way managers, players and officials speak in public about each other.

Initially they issued a statement on their website demanding that Mourinho retract his remarks, which had stoked up the season-long debate over whether Johnson goes to ground too quickly in the penalty area.

Everton yesterday announced they would make a formal complaint to the FA.

The letter had been drafted for 24 hours before Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon contacted Everton chairman Bill Kenwright in an attempt to thrash out a compromise that would avoid legal and FA action.

An Everton official said of the latest attack on Johnson: “Enough is enough,” with the club considering the valuation of their asset, Johnson, had been damaged and that the player’s mental state was being affected by the constant criticism of his style.

However, they have drawn back from legal action following Mourinho’s apology.

Mourinho’s behaviour has been criticised by Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor as well as Howard Wilkinson for the League Managers’ Association.

Both had suggested that complaints between managers and clubs should be aired in private and that managers should not criticise opponents’ players.

Everton believed that Mourinho, never far from controversy, had crossed the line and a stand needed to be taken.

Mourinho said in his apology: “First I would like to say I have the utmost respect for Everton Football Club, David Moyes and their players. That’s why I love to play them, and especially at Goodison Park, where the atmosphere is magnificent.

“Secondly, after the match I was clear and said Andy Johnson is a great player and I never used aggressive words, like some managers did against my players in previous seasons, or like some others recently said about him and Ronaldo. I never used the word ‘cheat’.

“After seeing it again on the video, (referee) Mr Halsey did wonderful work and both decisions for penalties were correct. Did Andy Johnson try to avoid a collision with my goalkeeper? It seems now the answer to that is yes, so Everton, his manager and he deserve my apologies.”