The Ego is Stranded

Jose Mourinho, aka The Special One, was trying very hard to be bullish in his post-match interview, but ‘bullish’ isn’t quite the way it came across.

The little Portuguese trotted out some familiar stuff about Arsenal having no desire to win the game (a variation on his old bus parking theme), Chelsea being the only side who really wanted and deserved it and the insignificance of Manchester United’s lead at the top of the Premiership. And for good measure he threw in some thinly veiled criticism of Alan Wiley – another unfortunate to be castigated for the heinous crime of not refereeing a Chelsea game in the manner prescribed by Chelsea.

But it all had a hollow and unconvincing ring to it. Because a much weakened Arsenal team (no Henry, Toure, Gallas or Rosicky) controlled the first half, passed the ball better, defended resolutely, grabbed a shock 78th minute lead though Matthieu Flamini, would have held it if Alan Wiley had penalised Ashley Cole’s blatant foul on Hleb in the lead up to Essien’s magnificent equaliser and, for all Chelsea’s late pressure, could have won if Hleb had been a little more composed in the 85th minute instead of blazing the ball over. Because for all their so-called superior power, the much vaunted Chelsea squad looked predictable and mechanical – and even after the introduction of the fluttering feet of Robben and a rather disappointing Wright-Phillips, they could not win the game. Because Arsene Wenger, who announced well in advance that his team would succeed, won the tactical battle and an immense moral victory, much to the embarrassment of Chelsea and their manager. Because the Blues were up to their old desperate tricks again, with the mighty Drogba apparently floored by little Fabregas, chopped down by Eboue and decked by a little nudge in the back from Lehmann; with Lumpy Lampard cruising around muttering threats at any Arsenal player who dared to tackle him; with Ashley Cole hacking Hleb and protesting at a yellow that might have been red, while his manager cavorted up and down the touchline on one of his theatrical outbursts; with whole posses of Chelsea players ritually contesting the outrage of any decision above a throw-in given against them.

Chelsea, we are told, aim to be the biggest club in the world. Chelsea, we understand, are perplexed because they do not receive the respect they believe they deserve, and are not loved. None of the above is designed to earn them, or their arrogant manager, what they crave, however many points they accumulate – or to alter the fact that the two teams who play the best football are, and have been for some time, Arsenal and Manchester United. Genuinely big clubs.