Mourniho Starts Mind Games With City

Last updated : 31 January 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Chelsea manager says referees’ favour title rivals and accuses some clubs of being ‘dodgy’ on financial fair play.

Mourinho appeared to launch a two-pronged attack on Manchester City on Friday when he claimed that they had got “lucky” with refereeing decisions and described some clubs as feeling “dodgy” in respect of financial fair play.

Unsurprisingly, Mourinho did not name specific clubs regarding Uefa’s financial fair play regulations but, in a press conference to preview Monday’s match with City, one of his main targets seemed obvious.

Jose Mourinho: “Next pre-season, day one, I will say Chelsea are a candidate to win the Premier League.

"We are not favourites to win any competition this season. The speech will change completely next pre-season.

“The players are obviously very good. Even with very good players, if the manager is not good, you don’t do it. On top of that – and I want to make it very clear that, for me, it’s just a coincidence and nothing else – the reality is they have many crucial decisions in their favour.

"City are lucky. Against Liverpool, the Sterling ‘goal’. The penalty on Suárez. Against Newcastle, the goal that is a clear goal. Against Tottenham, Dawson’s goal, the penalty and the red card. They are having everything. I repeat: just pure coincidence. But at the moment they have everything in their favour.”

Mourinho mocked Tim Sherwood’s assertion after City’s 5-1 demolition of Tottenham that they “are the best team on the planet”.

Jose Mourinho: “Maybe, for the Tottenham manager, the planet is England. You will see in the Champions League. You will see in a couple of months.

“City score goals. When your approach is very defensive, if you concede a goal, you are in trouble and have to make changes during the game.

"We’re not going to change our philosophy. We’re going to try to win knowing perfectly we can lose or draw.”