Mourinho refuses to back down words on Wenger saying “I don’t respect his past”

• Posted on February 17, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Jose Mourinho has refused to back down in his war of words with Arsene Wenger, stating that he does not respect the Frenchman’s past accomplishments.

Mourinho has had a series of run-ins with the Arsenal boss over the years and reignited the tension on Friday, labelling Wenger a “specialist in failure” – referring to the Gunners’ eight-and-a-half-year run without silverware.

The barb was aimed at Wenger after the 64-year-old said it was about time Chelsea were seen as the title favourites, suggesting Mourinho’s fear of failure was the reason he continually plays down expectations around the club.

Yet Mourinho refused to quell the storm, telling ITV prior to Chelsea’s 2-0 loss at Manchester City: “When he says that I am afraid of failure he is not respecting my past and because he does not respect this I do not respect his past.

“That’s my answer. It’s an answer that doesn’t make me happy, but an answer that I think he deserves.”

The Blues were defeated convincingly by Manchester City on Saturday evening, as goals from Stevan Jovetic and Samir Nasri dumped Mourinho’s team out of the FA Cup.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are still chasing that elusive piece of silverware and host Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

By Jay Jaffa