WENGER PLOTS JOSE PAIN
Chelsea boss feels the heat after woeful start to season
“When you lose matches, you’re afraid of the ball, afraid to shoot”
JOSe MOurINHO will offer a handshake to Arsene Wenger when his arch-enemy arrives at Stamford Bridge today. Whether Wenger accepts is another matter. Whether it is received as a genuine peace offering is highly unlikely.
The Arsenal manager makes no secret of his feelings towards Mourinho, despite refusing to verbalise them yesterday. He has long since tired of responding to the verbal grenades lobbed his way from across the capital.
Mourinho is clearly amused by Wenger’s longevity at the emirates Stadium despite not winning the Barclays Premier League title for more than a decade, and loves to taunt.
There were skirmishes during his first spell in england and he coined the ‘ specialist in failure’ insult upon his return two years ago.
Mourinho, nevertheless, remains a stickler for the protocol that a home manager should welcome his opposite number before the game. So he will go in search of a handshake, as he did at Wembley last month after Arsenal had won the FA Community Shield.
On that occasion, Wenger was in elusive mood having beaten his nemesis for the first time. Since losing his touchline cool in spectacular fashion during this fixture last season, he seems to have found it more palatable to disengage completely.
earlier this year, when asked in a press conference about a Mourinho remark, Wenger said he had no interest in the views of others. ‘Not even Mourinho?’ the inquisitor implored, surprisingly surprised. Wenger stared back.
‘especially not Mourinho?’ someone else ventured. ‘exactly,’ hissed Wenger.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s winner in the FA Community Shield was Arsenal’s first goal against a Mourinho Chelsea team since a Gilberto Silva penalty in May 2007.
It all became too much when Chelsea won again, last October, less than seven months after humiliating Wenger with a 6-0 thrashing on the occasion of his 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal.
He gave in to the temptation to use his height and r each advantage, and Mourinho rarely misses the chance to wonder aloud what bans and fines might have been imposed had he been guilty of such unruliness. Today, Wenger will be aware the pressure is firmly on Chelsea. The champions have only four points from five games, 11 adrift of leaders Manchester City, although they found form on Wednesday, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 as Arsenal lost at Dinamo Zagreb.
‘We improved the speed of the game, increasing the speed of the ball, it was much, much faster,’ said Mourinho, who dropped four senior players, and has seen the mood lift in the camp. When you l ose matches you are affected. You can say you’re not but you are. In life, you need confidence to be better.
‘You lose confidence, you don’t want the ball, you’re afraid of the ball, you fear the worst when the ball goes to your box and in front of the opponents’ goalkeeper you’re afraid to shoot.
‘For us the victory was important. I’m not saying it’s what we needed to win 15 in a row. I’m saying it’s important for people to be a bit more relaxed and a bit more confident.’
John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic were ‘not rested’, according to Mourinho, and today Ivanovic’s place at right back must be under most serious threat.
His form has been poor and Arsenal
are strong on their left, where Alexis Sanchez links up effectively with Mesut Ozil. Another decision revolves around teenage midfielder Ruben Loftus- Cheek, who impressed on Wednesday, but there were no promises for anyone, including Terry, the captain, who played every Premier League game last season.
‘I play who I want,’ said Mourinho. ‘ I don’t think about the conse- quences. I play the player I think is the best for that moment. John has known that since 2004. During his time with me, he has seen many examples of big players left out.’
Petr Cech will return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his £10million transfer to Arsenal and supporters in the Shed are planning a banner to say: ‘Thank you Petr. Chelsea legend.’
The goalkeeper won everything in 11 years at the club and his popularity and loyalty persuaded owner Roman Abramovich to let him join local rivals when Mourinho advised against it.
With Thibaut Courtois out with a serious knee injury, the irony will be lost on no one when Cech runs out in Arsenal colours. When it comes to handshakes, at least those with Cech will have warmth and feeling.