Having already labelled Arsene Wenger a “voyeur” earlier this season, Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho celebrated going 9 points clear of Manchester United after yesterday’s 2-0 defeat of Arsenal by refusing to shake hands with the opposing boss. From the Telegraph’s Christopher Davies.
Mourinho (above) disappeared down the tunnel without shaking hands with Arsene Wenger. The Portuguese said: “Is that important? No, don’t think it’s important. What happens on the pitch is important.”
Mourinho refused to be interviewed by Sky Sports after the game, blaming them for the two-game Uefa ban imposed on Michael Essien for his tackle on Liverpool’s Dietmar Hamann. “You are very popular in Barcelona,” he told Sky’s waiting reporter. Mourinho believes Uefa suspended Essien because the challenge was highlighted by television.
His next target was Arsenal, who he said had a strategy with Essien, cautioned after Lauren was caught on the upper chest as the Chelsea midfielder put an arm back to protect himself from a challenge. Implying that Arsenal were trying to get Essien sent off, Mourinho said: “Ten players jumping on him is something of a strategy.”
Referee Rob Styles was Mourinho’s next target. “The other negative point for me was that a player who deserved two direct red cards finished the game with one yellow card,” said Mourinho. “In the first half Senderos made a foul on Drogba for a direct red card but no card was given.
“In the second half he made another one on Robben for a direct red but only got a yellow. I think it was not Styles’ day. I think he is a very good referee. He is a very friendly and polite person but today was not his day.”