All eyes of premier league fans will be gazed at Stamford Bridge as the league leaders Chelsea battle against title challengers Arsenal in what could end the hopes of Arsene Wenger’s team chance of winning the premier league this year. There have been many title decider matches this season and tomorrow’s London derby will surely be one of the them.
Chelsea come into this game after a defeat to Aston Villa a week ago with two of our stars, Ramires and Willian suspended for this crucial game. After wards, the Blues beat Galatasaray comfortably 2-0 at home in the second leg to advance into the last eight of the champions league. This game could not come at a more crucial part of the season and Jose Mourinho has played his famous dig onto Arsene Wenger and Arsenal ahead of the fierce derby.
When asked for his opinion about Arsenal and the fact that their manager Arsene Wenger will be in charge of his 1000th game for the Gunners, the Portuguese responded by saying this…
‘I admire him and I admire Arsenal because it’s not possible to have 1000 matches unless the club is also a fantastic club in the way they support their manager in the bad moments – especially when the bad moments were quite a lot – so I admire the manager and I admire the club.’ -A dig against his rival at the fact that Arsenal has never won a trophy in the past 8 years.
And does the Special one think he would last as long to take his 1000th match as Chelsea’s manager?
‘I would like to reach 1000 but it’s very difficult, and in modern football it’s even more difficult. If I accumulate my first three-and-a-half years with Chelsea and this one I have a few!’ laughed Mourinho.
‘Let’s see if I can reach not 1000, I would say 500. That would be fantastic.’
And speaking of the significance of the derby Jose Mourinho said, ‘It’s no more significant than the game last Saturday in Birmingham. It’s exactly the same significance; maybe a bit less now because of what happened last weekend. Last Saturday put us in a position where probably we wouldn’t be now, probably we would be with more points than we have now.’
And as we all remember, the Special one was sent off at the closing stages of the game against Aston Villa last Saturday after charging to the field to speak to referee Foy. And as a result, the FA had fined Jose Mourinho to which he has to respond to the charge by the upcoming week.
He responded the decision from the FA by saying that he will not accept his punishment.
‘I don’t accept the charges,’ he reported. ‘I have a meeting on Monday and I have to make my defence privately, not with you. For you it is enough to know for obvious reasons I don’t accept the charges.’
Finally, the Special one spoke about the team news for tomorrow’s game after we knew last week that Ramires and Willian will serve a suspension for this game after a red card against Aston Villa last Saturday. We also learned about Van Ginkel’s recovery and that Ashley Cole is out for this game.
‘As a consequence of last Saturday we don’t have Ramires and Willian,’ said Mourinho. ‘Ashley Cole is still out. Marco van Ginkel is playing tonight against Man United for the Under-21s. Nothing else I think.’
Those were the main talking points from the press conference of Jose Mourinho on Friday. The game will be played in the early kick off game on Saturday and we wish the Blues the best of success in this crucial game neither side will afford to lose. Let us know your comments below and KTBFFH!
