Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho labels Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal ‘boring’

Chelsea manager takes a dig at Arsenal's lack of league trophies.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho speaks to Arsenal fans. Reuters

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho laughed off the Arsenal crowd’s “boring” jibes by reminding the Gunners of their wait for the Premier League title as his side closed in on the trophy.

Chelsea need five more points to be crowned Premier League champions for the first time in five years, but were jeered in the goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium for a stubborn performance which frustrated Arsenal, who last won the title in 2003/04.

“You know, I think boring is 10 years without a title. That’s very boring,” said Mourinho, who criticised Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for not doing more to win the game.

“You support the club and you’re waiting, waiting, waiting for so many years without a Premier League title, so that’s very boring.

“But maybe they were not singing to us. Maybe, when you want to win a game and you’re at home and you take your No 9 (Olivier Giroud) off, maybe the home fans want more.

“Maybe they want to play Giroud and (Danny) Welbeck together up front to try to win the game.”

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Told Chelsea will not be loved by neutrals for the way they have sacrificed their artistic approach for a more methodical one, as Mourinho revealed on Friday, he scarcely cared.

“I have lots of love,” Mourinho said.

“No problem. If you (the media) tell the truth, people will fall in love with us.

“But you have to tell the truth. If you say the truth, you will walk in the street and people will blow kisses at us.”

The draw felt like a win for Mourinho, whose side could be champions within a week by winning at Leicester City on Wednesday and beating Crystal Palace at home next Sunday.

“It’s one point. It leaves five,” added Mourinho, who declined the opportunity to expand on Chelsea being denied two penalties in the first half.

“If we’d won today we’d need three. If we’d lost today we’d need eight.

“This point is like almost three points, because you don’t need eight, you need five.

“It’s a positive result... a fair result, if you forget the penalties. And I want to forget the penalties because I think the referee (Michael Oliver) had a very good performance.”

Asked how he would like Chelsea to be remembered as champions, Mourinho said: “First of all, we need to be champions. We need to win the five points to be champions.

“If we do that - and I think we are going to do that - we will be champions being top of the league since day one.

“Being top of the league since day one, only top teams can do that.”

Oscar, who began the match as Chelsea’s most advanced player as Mourinho opted against fielding a recognised striker, was clattered by Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina in the first half and might have had a penalty.

The Brazil playmaker left for hospital at half-time and was replaced by Didier Drogba for the second half, but Mourinho did not know if Oscar has concussion.

“He went to hospital at half-time. I don’t know (if it is concussion), we are waiting,” the Portuguese said.

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