Jose Mourinho Has Bigger Problems Than the FA's Bullying Tactics

After the storm surrounding him this week, Jose Mourinho cut a surprisingly serene figure in his press conference ahead of Chelsea's clash with Aston Villa.

Things had erupted when the FA issued him with a £50,000 fine and one-match suspended stadium ban after comments he made regarding referees in the wake of Chelsea's loss to Southampton ahead of the international break.

Mourinho's response to that was predictable, labelling the football authorities a "disgrace" on Thursday, per BBC Sport.

Less than 24 hours later, however, the Chelsea boss was in front of the press again but this time resisted the urge to drag the debate on further.

"Yes [I will appeal the fine]," he said, explaining that he has now received written confirmation on the FA's decision, outlining their reasons.

"I have to be honest with myself. That's the most important thing [...] I think it's the moment to stop with my opinions and not to add anything more than I have already."

Finally, Mourinho has seen some sense.

As frustrated as he may have been with perceived bullying tactics from the FA, he needs to stray from any further clashes by way of the media.

It may be the boring approach, but keeping his counsel is his only option right now. Chelsea face so many hurdles in the pursuit of getting their season back on track, more negative headlines and heat on the manager isn't going to help.

If anything, it's going be detrimental, continuing the ill-feeling surrounding the club.

Mourinho's right in his assertions, though. It's far from a campaign against the manager and his club, but the FA have singled him out this week with their hardline approach.

And it constitutes bullying.

His one-game stadium ban—suspended for 12 months—is geared toward one thing: shutting him up. Rather than engaging in dialogue to do that, the FA have taken to making ultimatums to get their way.

Now they have something over Mourinho, to tease and threaten him with until the time comes when it expires.

Why? Because they can.

Developments this week have shown a lack of respect for Chelsea and their manager but, above all, smack of hypocrisy.

There are times when Mourinho should follow the instruction to remain tight-lipped, but the situation in which he and the football authorities find themselves is not all his doing.

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Mourinho's complaints about poor officiating following the Southampton defeat were unjust. He was arguing a penalty decision going against Falcao when, as TV replays confirmed, it would have been a harsh call against Ronald Koeman's men.

The referee got it right.

That's where everything has been confused, Mourinho's words losing all their meaning as when we consider the wider picture, he does actually have a case stacked in his favour.

Last season, time and again Chelsea could feel aggrieved for decisions going against them. Take another Southampton fixture—this time over the Christmas period away at St. Mary's—when Cesc Fabregas was fouled in the box only for Anthony Taylor to wave play on.

The common consensus after was that Chelsea were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty that could have won them the game. Instead, it finished 1-1.

And there were many more examples besides.

Mourinho's point two weeks ago was a clear one; when Chelsea are top of the table and winning matches, they can be frustrated about bad decisions, but they can't really complain too much given things are still going their way.

Now that his team sits just above the relegation zone, however, it makes things harder to accept. Things are amplified.

So woeful were Chelsea in that game ahead of the international break, a Falcao penalty wouldn't have saved them.

Indeed, Southampton had two shouts for a spot-kick themselves, one for Virgil van Dijk being more than legitimate.

But it adds to the problems for Mourinho and his players when they feel a sense of being the victim. Even in the Champions League against Porto, there was a case for a late handball in the box that should have been given their way and wasn't. They lost that game 2-1.

So Mourinho has cause for complaint, and by not addressing the issues with match officials, allowing the situation to get to where it has, the FA have more than played their part.

When other managers voice their criticism, stadium bans and fines in the high thousands aren't forthcoming. They've set a precedent with this one.

In the case of Arsene Wenger, Mourinho has himself to blame in that regard.

Whenever the pair address one another in press conference, things can get overlooked, like Wenger's criticism of Mike Dean following the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in September.

"I don't understand Mike Dean's decision at all," Wenger said that day, referring to the referee's decision not to send off Diego Costa after his scuffle with Laurent Koscielny and subsequently Gabriel Paulista.

"Why does Diego Costa stay on the pitch and Gabriel is sent off?" Wenger asked, continuing to question Dean's performance.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

"On their first goal, I couldn't see a free-kick against us. [Costa benefited from] the naivety of Mike Dean today. [...] It's a question you should ask Mike Dean [why Costa continues to get away with his antics].

"We expected that type of game. We were not surprised, but you expect the referee to make the right decision."

Wenger went on to agree that Gabriel should have been dismissed for his part in the furore that occurred just ahead of half-time. In the days that followed the controversy, the Brazilian's red card was rescinded by the FA's disciplinary committee, while Costa received a three-match ban.

Wenger wasn't taken to task for his comments on the referee, either. Just like he wasn't reprimanded for shoving Mourinho in his technical area when Arsenal last visited Stamford Bridge in October 2014.

Only the FA can truly comment as to whether they apply rules more stringently for some. Yet, from where Mourinho's placed, it's not difficult to see why he is feeling hard done by.

He has bigger problems than whether or not he is a darling of those who walk the halls of English football's HQ, though.

Chelsea are in a real scrap right now, and it's precisely on that where the manager needs to be focused.

If Chelsea can't overcome a struggling Aston Villa side this weekend, their problems will only get worse, which the manager agreed with ahead of the game.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

"Every game is a must-win for different reasons," he said. "But we can't run away from the reality of the table in the Premier League. We know in a couple of months we will be where we need to be [but] we need points."

Chelsea need plenty more besides; they need their key players back on form; they need to restore the harmony that saw them run away with the title last season; they need the negativity to go away; they need Mourinho ready.

That's not going to happen if he continues to publicly react to the FA's treatment of him or complain about referees.

He can endear himself to English football with his quips in press conferences, but what it comes down to with Mourinho and his love affair with the Premier League is that he's a winner.

It's exactly that which got him to Chelsea over a decade ago; it's why Roman Abramovich brought him back at a time when Chelsea arguably needed him most.

Forget the FA, referees, Wenger and all the rest of it. Get back to what you do best, Jose.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes