MOAN-inho at it again

A master of the mind game, Jose Mourinho had started his game before the season gets underway.

First he took a swipe at Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool for spending more money than his Chelsea and buying their way to the title.

He might have selective memory but to put records on the table, over the period between 2004 and 2014, no manager in the world has spend more money than the Portuguese during his spells with Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. His total spending, nearly €1bn, €22m more than his closest rival Carlo Ancelotti who succeeded him at Real

Second, after the Community Shield defeat at his nemesis Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, he said, "My opinion is the team that defends very well, that leaves their philosophy in the dressing room, changes their attitude, plays all the second half with nine players in front of the box, doesn’t concede and scores one goal, from that perspective they deserve to win.

"This is football. This is very good tactical organisation. Congratulations to them."

While Mourinho might seem to be praising Arsenal, it does not mask the fact he is critising Wenger for deploying the park-the-bus tactics, something which Mourinho has perfected and used frequently during big games en-route to the league title last season.

But is Arsenal really that bad?

Based on WhoScored.com statistic, the Blues' manager is far from being true.

Total Shots
Arsenal - 11
Chelsea - 14

Shots on Target
Arsenal - 5
Chelsea - 2

Pass Success
Arsenal - 75%
Chelsea - 80%

Aerial Success
Arsenal - 39%
Chelsea - 61%

Dribbles
Arsenal - 5
Chelsea - 11

Tackles
Arsenal - 11
Chelsea - 18

Possession
Arsenal - 43%
Chelsea - 57%

Knowing Mourinho, he will usually try to unnerve opponents whom he thinks is a threat to his Chelsea team. For him to pay such "tribute" to Arsenal, one can be sure that he sees Arsenal as a genuine contender.