Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has taken a double swipe at long-term rivals Arsenal, by claiming that new signing Cesc Fabregas didn’t want to return to the Emirates Stadium, before adding that Jack Wilshere is a bad role model for children.
The Blues signed Fabregas from FC Barcelona this Summer despite The Gunners having a first refusal clause in his contract, and after Arsene Wenger rejected the chance to re-sign the Spaniard, he eventually joined Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
‘How did I persuade him? I spoke to him for about 20 minute,’ said Mourinho.
‘I think he really wanted to come. Arsenal had an option where they could interfere, but I don’t’ think he was open to that. He was in our direction so it was easy for me.’
As for Wilshere, he has recently been snapped drinking heavily and smoking in a pool surrounded by mates, and Mourinho believes he is setting a bad example for children who look up to him.
‘What football players do, millions and millions are watching, lots of kids are watching,’ said the Blues boss.
‘I’m not a specialist, obviously, but I don’t think if a football player smokes one cigar or cigarette with friends in the summer when he is not training – I don’t think it affects his performance.
‘What gets affected is that a kid at home says if a top football player can smoke then I can smoke and it is not a problem.
‘It is more a social consequence than a physical consequence.
‘Would I be angry if it was my player? Being angry is not a solution but I would just explain exactly that, that everything they do or wear is part of the kids’ life.
‘If they smoke, maybe the kids think they do it a lot of times and they will probably do the same.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
