English Premier League: Mourinho demands focus from misfiring Chelsea
Manager insists on effective title chase when they face rivals Arsenal today
TOP SPOT BATTLE: Chelsea dropped to fourth place in the table on Saturday, three points adrift of new leaders Liverpool and one behind third placed Arsenal. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Jose Mourinho has warned his Chelsea stars they cannot afford any more careless lapses in concentration when they face title rivals Arsenal on Monday.
Mourinho is growing increasingly vexed by the misfiring form of Chelsea's strikers and his defenders' alarming habit of switching off at key moments.
Chelsea dropped to fourth place in the table on Saturday, three points adrift of new leaders Liverpool and one behind third placed Arsenal.
And, with so much at stake when Chelsea visit the Emirates Stadium, Mourinho has made it clear he will not tolerate more sloppiness from his players.
"If we cannot improve our efficiency in front of the goal, we have to improve in the other end," said Mourinho.
"We have to improve when we lose possession of the ball. We cannot just let the players hide behind the fact that we are not scoring enough goals and wait for that to happen.
It’s not a personal battle: Wenger
While Mourinho battles to cure Chelsea's various ailments, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may never get a better chance to finally beat his old rival.
Wenger has failed to defeat Mourinho in nine previous attempts, including a 2-0 loss in the League Cup earlier this season.
But, whatever the result, Wenger insists there is no longer any hostility between the two managers.
"It is not a personal battle," said Wenger. "Honestly, we had some big games in the past, but what is important for me is that I am completely focused on my team doing well.”
A victory would ensure Arsenal head into the busy Christmas programme back on top of the table, but Wenger has slipped up too many times against Chelsea in the past to take anything for granted.
"Chelsea are a good side with many good promising players," said Wenger. "It will be important to have a good defensive focus to stop them going forward."
Moyes defends Januzaj amid diving claims
Manchester United manager David Moyes has defended young winger Adnan Januzaj against allegations that he could be developing an unwanted reputation for diving.
Januzaj was booked for simulation in the first half of United's breezy 3-1 win over West Ham United after going down in the general vicinity of James Collins.
However, while Moyes accepted Januzaj's yellow card was justified, he was more concerned that referee Michael Jones only handed out a booking to West Ham defender George McCartney following a horrendous stamp on the ankle of Javier Hernandez.
"He [Jones] saw a bit of simulation in another one, but didn't see that," said Moyes.
"I think Adnan was expecting a challenge from [James] Collins, but if you look at the last two games, he has taken more tackles than any other player.
"So we'll talk to him about it, but you [journalists] might be picking on the wrong person.”
Jose Mourinho has warned his Chelsea stars they cannot afford any more careless lapses in concentration when they face title rivals Arsenal on Monday.
Mourinho is growing increasingly vexed by the misfiring form of Chelsea's strikers and his defenders' alarming habit of switching off at key moments.
Chelsea dropped to fourth place in the table on Saturday, three points adrift of new leaders Liverpool and one behind third placed Arsenal.
And, with so much at stake when Chelsea visit the Emirates Stadium, Mourinho has made it clear he will not tolerate more sloppiness from his players.
"If we cannot improve our efficiency in front of the goal, we have to improve in the other end," said Mourinho.
"We have to improve when we lose possession of the ball. We cannot just let the players hide behind the fact that we are not scoring enough goals and wait for that to happen.
It’s not a personal battle: Wenger
While Mourinho battles to cure Chelsea's various ailments, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may never get a better chance to finally beat his old rival.
Wenger has failed to defeat Mourinho in nine previous attempts, including a 2-0 loss in the League Cup earlier this season.
But, whatever the result, Wenger insists there is no longer any hostility between the two managers.
"It is not a personal battle," said Wenger. "Honestly, we had some big games in the past, but what is important for me is that I am completely focused on my team doing well.”
A victory would ensure Arsenal head into the busy Christmas programme back on top of the table, but Wenger has slipped up too many times against Chelsea in the past to take anything for granted.
"Chelsea are a good side with many good promising players," said Wenger. "It will be important to have a good defensive focus to stop them going forward."
Moyes defends Januzaj amid diving claims
Manchester United manager David Moyes has defended young winger Adnan Januzaj against allegations that he could be developing an unwanted reputation for diving.
Januzaj was booked for simulation in the first half of United's breezy 3-1 win over West Ham United after going down in the general vicinity of James Collins.
However, while Moyes accepted Januzaj's yellow card was justified, he was more concerned that referee Michael Jones only handed out a booking to West Ham defender George McCartney following a horrendous stamp on the ankle of Javier Hernandez.
"He [Jones] saw a bit of simulation in another one, but didn't see that," said Moyes.
"I think Adnan was expecting a challenge from [James] Collins, but if you look at the last two games, he has taken more tackles than any other player.
"So we'll talk to him about it, but you [journalists] might be picking on the wrong person.”