Mourinho: Arsenal have had it easy

[mixmastermatt]

By MARK IRWIN

JOSE MOURINHO has dismissed Arsenal’s 100 per cent start to the season, insisting the Gunners have had it easy.

The Chelsea boss saw his side slip two points behind Arsene Wenger’s men last week after they drew 0-0 at Aston Villa, while Arsenal secured their straight fifth win at Fulham.

Chelsea have played Manchester United at home and battled a very physical Birmingham side away — and have been firmly put in the shade by the defending champions.

But three of Arsenal’s victories have come against teams in the bottom five — and Mourinho believes his side will have a big advantage later in the season.

He said: “We have had a much more difficult start to the season than Arsenal.

“And in the next few matches we have Tottenham and Liverpool at home with Middlesbrough away, while they have games against Bolton, Manchester City and Charlton.

“If we can be within a point or two of Arsenal in November and December then we have a chance.”

Blues’ £24million striker Didier Drogba’s brazen defiance of the Parisian mob on Tuesday did not come as a shock to any of his team-mates — the Frenchman was simply taking his lead from Mourinho.

Drogba mocked the Paris St Germain fans after scoring two goals in the Blues’ 3-0 Champions League victory.

The Ivory Coast international was jeered and taunted because he used to play for hated rivals Marseille.

Yet he refused to be intimidated and boldly faced down the mob. It was a tactic first employed by Mourinho 18 months ago ahead of his first game as Porto coach away to bitter rivals Benfica.

Mourinho had infuriated Benfica when he quit after just 11 games in charge because the club would not extend his coaching contract.

He recalled: “I knew I would get a thunderously negative reception from the crowd.


“That is why I decided to go out alone on to their pitch before the game. The stadium was full and there was still half an hour to go before the start of the game.

“I’d never been a top class footballer so I’d never had the opportunity to feel what it would be like to have 80,000 people booing me.

“But it was fantastic. I had a lovely sensation and felt like the most important person in the world.

“It gave me strength to continue on my path.”

[mixmastermatt]

i wouldnt say fulham and boro are ******** - and everton are in 5th!

********** team in fulham
your just a ********** team in fulham
********** team in fulham
your just a ********** team in fulham........

[ZonaGunner]

Hey, with the match saturday with Bolton, Arsenal will have played 3 of the current top 5 EPL teams. We haven't fed on lower table teams Chelski has, like, um, ManU! :)

[michaec]

Mourinho trying the "mind games" crap like Fergie now? You can only beat who's put in front of you and we've won all five, whereas Chelsea dropped points against the might of Aston Villa. Chelsea are going to be like always, playing well against the top teams because those games are easy to get motivated for and dropping points against the also rans because they get complacent. Chelsea's record versus Man Utd in recent history is brilliant, so how come they lose to other teams regularly enough to not win the championship?

[gwunwai]

I'm quite curious over such "mind games" tactics. Do they really work? Doesn't everybody know it's just bollocks?

[christosap]

can some one please point to the bit that is supposibly a mind game. he said basically that chelsea have more challenging matches earlier in the season and if they are still in the same point range come nov chelsea will have an advantage. do you boys think you have played harder teams then chelsea so far, mind you middlesborough were missing 2 starting defenders and they dont have the depth arsenal do so those injuries are much more influential.
last point the only reason chelsea dont have a 100% record is because that ref is a twit, when the opposing manager thinks its a clear penalty you know you've been robbed.

[fedwood]

he can say what he wants
we all know that Arsenal V Chelsea will have to have an Arsenal win unless we want Mourinho bragging fo rhte rest of the season claiming he is god
hell we need 2 wins vs them this season

[michaec]

can some one please point to the bit that is supposibly a mind game. he said basically that chelsea have more challenging matches earlier in the season and if they are still in the same point range come nov chelsea will have an advantage. do you boys think you have played harder teams then chelsea so far, mind you middlesborough were missing 2 starting defenders and they dont have the depth arsenal do so those injuries are much more influential.
last point the only reason chelsea dont have a 100% record is because that ref is a twit, when the opposing manager thinks its a clear penalty you know you've been robbed.OK, you won't have a bad word said against Mourinho, he did well for your club so fair enough. Yes, we haven't yet played the supposed stronger teams in the Premiership, but that doesn't disguise the fact that Mourinho is trying to apply pressure to the Arsenal players with his comments. Chelsea may have played tougher sides (well United anyway), but this is his way of relieving any tension in his players at having fallen two points behind and simultaneously making sure that the Arsenal players know that when the big games do come around they will be under extra pressure to perform. I can see through it and I'm sure that the Arsenal management and players can too. As for bad refereeing decisions, everyone gets them, but if Chelsea are relying on the ref to get them 1-0 wins then they might as well give up any pretension of winning the title right now.

[Detlef]

I'm quite curious over such "mind games" tactics. Do they really work? Doesn't everybody know it's just bollocks?


When Kevin Keegan was the gaffer at Newcastle, IIRC they had a lead in the EPL heading down the stretch and Sir Rednose made some comments that played with his head, ultimately costing NUFC the title.

do they work against AW? I'd say not.

[442]

It certainly seems that JM enjoys "getting stuck in" doesn't it? Whether it's Sir Alex or Wenger, he's ready to go toe to toe. On one hand I like that and wish there were more managers in position or willing to. On the other, he comes off looking a bit arrogant which is a shame, because as far as I can tell this guy is one heck of a manager. I think given the exact same team, he'd take it further than Ferguson could.

[christosap]

OK, you won't have a bad word said against Mourinho, he did well for your club so fair enough. Yes, we haven't yet played the supposed stronger teams in the Premiership, but that doesn't disguise the fact that Mourinho is trying to apply pressure to the Arsenal players with his comments. Chelsea may have played tougher sides (well United anyway), but this is his way of relieving any tension in his players at having fallen two points behind and simultaneously making sure that the Arsenal players know that when the big games do come around they will be under extra pressure to perform. I can see through it and I'm sure that the Arsenal management and players can too. As for bad refereeing decisions, everyone gets them, but if Chelsea are relying on the ref to get them 1-0 wins then they might as well give up any pretension of winning the title right now.

i expect an official to do a profesional job and nothing more, from the first time i saw it i knew it was a penalty, he didn't even bother to consult the linesman, (even when chelsea players protested ;) ), if this is a mind game it is a bit too light weight for mourinho to think it will do any damage, maybe he is just trying to reasure the fans.
i'll concede his arrogent and anything else people want to call him, but it would take some one pretty small to really be offended as it is only soccer and i think most would agree that it adds a little off field entertainment.

[michaec]

I'm not offended in the least, but it does bore me a lot. I'm not one of those who goes in for reading what other managers say about us too much, I'm usually interested in what our manager says and very little else as regards Arsenal.

I would agree that referees should do a good job. Referees make mistakes, look at our game against Fulham, there were at least three blatant mistakes in the game which should have left the score at 2-1 to Fulham before our first legitimate goal went in. I am a believer that these things even themselves out over a season, so don't worry about that too much. What I would worry about is if my team couldn't score a goal from open play against Villa!

[christosap]

villa at home wont be a walk in the park for arsenal either, there are a few smaller teams that will take points off both arsenal and chelsea.
i wasn't saying you where offended or small, but some people do seem to react very badly to his comments, and start going on rants and what not, what i find entertaining someone else will find boring and someone else offensive, but in general these thinks should be kepy in prespective.

[Val1]

Well, I am certainly enjoying Mourinho. The Premiership is passing Fergie by and Ranieri never had much to say and the verbal game is one that Wenger can play as well.

Mourinho has raised the bar, he will either be stunningly successful or he will go down in flames as the most scorned coach in England. I like that arrogance and confidence and I respect him for it. As for the job he's doing at Chelsea, the early returns are that he is creating a team that has a singular focus on winning and catching us. His yakking is part of that program. The test will come Dec 12 and I'm looking forward to it. We've got to get Sol signed, happy and playing, and when that happens, we'll be better than we were last year. Chelsea should be better than last year, too. Ruud's back and Rooney and Rio will be starting soon. I haven't been this excited about a season in a long time...

[sanariot]

What I would worry about is if my team couldn't score a goal from open play against Villa!

I'd be worried if my team could only manage an own goal at home to PSV. ;)

[phishy]

I'd be worried if my team could only manage an own goal at home to PSV. ;)

why?

[nicephoras]

For ********'s sake, read his actual quotes rather than the media's story. All he's said is that "we've had a tougher schedule, and if we can stay within a few points of Arsenal, we'll be in good shape."

[Cannon]

why?

Because Astorian doesn't understand the difference between Arsenal getting 3 points and his team getting 1.

I think JM comments are silly but what do you expect. He runs that mouth all of the time. If you look at the schedule, sure we've killed some weak squads but Chelsea hasn't exactly done much to worry us. They beat one of the weakest ManU squads in years. Then barely beat Birmingham. Defeat CP (who won't). Need a Beattie own goal to beat Southampton before playing AVilla to a draw. Wow..scary.

[TMarie]

I'd be worried if my team could only manage an own goal at home to PSV. ;)

Insane. I'd be worried if they lost the game and didn't pick up any points. The nature of the goal doesn't matter. It's 3 points. Would u rather it was a penalty??? :rolleyes:

[nicephoras]

Because Astorian doesn't understand the difference between Arsenal getting 3 points and his team getting 1.

That's interesting, given you go on to post this just a sentence later:

Then barely beat Birmingham. Defeat CP (who won't). Need a Beattie own goal to beat Southampton

So which is it? Is it the victory, or the comfortable victory? In your smugness, you might finally want to pick whether its the style or the three points that matter to you.