MOURINHO AGREES WITH WENGER

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admits he does not see eye to eye with his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger on many subjects, but when it comes to being great managers the pair are, for once, in full accord.

The duo have never missed an opportunity to snipe at each other and have been involved in another unsavoury bout of verbal sparring in the run-up to Sunday's Carling Cup final in Cardiff.

In Porto, Mourinho appeared to taunt Wenger over his failure to win the Champions League after Arsenal lost out to Barcelona in the final last season.

It was a comment which forced the Arsenal boss to respond by claiming that a coach does not have to win Europe's top competition to be acknowledged as a great manager.

Wenger's words appear to have paved the way for a spell of harmony between two managers who once fell out over Christmas cards.

Mourinho said: "I agree with him totally. He has never won it but he is a great manager.

"We don't agree on many things but on this we agree completely. In Porto I said to win the Champions League does not make you a great manager.

"A great manager can be a great manager without winning the Champions League and because I won it once, I feel very privileged. This time we are of the same opinion."

One thing they appear not to agree on is the footballing philosophy. Under Wenger, Arsenal are regarded as purveyors of the romantic side of the game - attacking, free-flowing and easy on the eye.

Wenger's side has been built around young players who are now proving their worth both at home and in Europe.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are physical, direct, powerful and clinical and have sacrificed youth for big-money signings.

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