FA too soft on Wenger, says Jose

J OSE MOURINHO has launched an attack on the FA for what he insists is their preferential treatment of Arsene Wenger.

The Chelsea boss claimed Wenger is allowed to operate by his own rules and is the only manager in England forever free from the threat of the sack.

‘ In this country, only one manager is not under pressure,’ said Mourinho, ahead of today’s game at Newcastle, where Steve McClaren is still searching for his first win in the Barclays Premier League this season.

‘Every other manager is: I am under pressure, Steve (McClaren) is under pressure, (Manuel) Pellegrini is under pressure, Brendan (Rodgers), too. We cannot be below par. We have to meet the objectives.

‘There is one outside that list, but good for him. You know who.

‘The one who can speak about the referees before the game, after the game, can push people in the technical area, but nothing happens.

‘He can underachieve, keep his job, still be the king.

‘If I speak about the referee, I am suspended. If I push a manager in the technical area, I am banned from the stadium. So, clearly, the facts are there.’

Mourinho is unhappy at events since the clash between Gabriel — who was sent off — and his striker Diego Costa — who wasn’t — during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last Saturday. And with Wenger’s comments about referee Mike Dean.

‘I would like Mike Dean to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision,’ said Wenger at the time.

On Tuesday, Gabriel’s red card was rescinded by an i ndependent disciplinary commission and Costa was banned for three games on a violent- conduct charge from video evidence.

Yesterday, Gabriel was banned for one match and fined £10,000 for a separate incident — failing to leave the pitch following his sending- off — after admitting an FA charge of improper conduct.

Asked about Costa’s aggressive style, Mourinho replied: ‘In the rule book, it says some managers can speak about the referees before and after games. Some others cannot. I am in the list of those who are punished if they speak about the referees.’

Wenger yesterday claimed that Claudio Ranieri — and not Mourinho — built the foundation for Chelsea’s era of glory.

The Arsenal boss, who faces Ranieri’s Leicester today, said: ‘They finished second in the league with Claudio and the team was upcoming with young players like John Terry and Frank Lampard. He did a great job.’