Jose Mourinho Aims Dig at Arsene Wenger, Talks Diego Costa in Chelsea Presser

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was in a boisterous mood as he addressed the media on Friday, aiming a dig at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.  

The Blues boss also discussed the Football Association's decision to ban centre-forward Diego Costa and the players who could replace him for the Blues’ visit to Newcastle United on Saturday.

But the most notable moment of another absorbing press conference was when Mourinho took an underhand shot at the Gunners boss, per ESPN FC’s Miguel Delaney:

You suspect the Portuguese’s anger was to do with rulings from the FA this week in the wake of the two teams clashing at Stamford Bridge last weekend. 

Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista, who was sent off in the match for aiming a kick at Chelsea man Costa, had his ban rescinded, while Costa was levied with a three-match suspension for his conduct during the Blues’ 2-0 victory. Wenger had complained about the behaviour of the Chelsea striker after the game.

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Mourinho was unhappy with the rulings but wouldn’t be drawn too strongly on the matter, insisting he is one of a selection of managers who are not permitted to criticise the officials, per Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror:

"

If I answer I’m going to be suspended. I don’t want to touch the theme and everything that surrounds this situation

I don’t comment and I tell you why. Some managers can speak about the referee before the game and after the game and some others cannot. I am in the list of the ones that cannot.

"

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The Blues boss also commented on the nature of the incident, hinting the retrospective action taken sets a worrying precedent, per the club’s official Twitter feed:

Despite Mourinho’s edginess, things have actually turned around for Chelsea on the field. They’ve won their last three games in succession after a poor start to the season and will head to Newcastle to play a team that are struggling at the moment.

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For Loic Remy, a former Newcastle player, it’ll be a special occasion, and with Costa suspended, the 28-year-old could start the game. But Mourinho revealed there’s no extra pressure to put him into the team ahead of on-loan forward Radamel Falcao:

The game will be an ideal opportunity for Mourinho’s men to get their third win of the Premier League season. Steve McClaren’s team have been awful in their last few outings—especially their 1-0 surrender at home to Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup in midweek.

Indeed, things have got so desperate, the club's manager director Lee Charnley sent an email to supporters on the eve of the game asking for calm.

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Mourinho didn’t seem to have much sympathy for the Magpies’ plight, though, suggesting they need to up their game:

In another big boost for the Blues, their manager revealed that aside from long-term absentee Thibaut Courtois, all of the players are fit for the trip to the north east:

Things slowly seem to be turning around for Mourinho. With an almost fully fit squad and a team that seems to be growing in confidence, a rosier future lies ahead. After the Blues’ 3-1 loss to Everton, the manager did seem to be losing a little bit of control, but credit to him and the players for putting in some much improved performances.

He’ll be keen to exercise caution ahead of their trip to Newcastle, where the atmosphere will be raucous and the players keen to prove a point; the Magpies have won this fixture the last three years in a row. With that in mind, going to Newcastle and turning in an accomplished display would probably be the biggest indicator yet that Chelsea are back in earnest.