Chelsea deny leaving pitch in decline

Jose Mourinho yesterday branded Barcelona "stupid" if they believe that he has deliberately kept the Stamford Bridge pitch in poor condition for Wednesday's Champions League game. There have been suggestions from Catalonia that Chelsea have chosen not to relay the grass because a low-quality surface will suit the home team better, but Mourinho responded strongly.

"Only stupid people can think a team like Chelsea, with the qualities Chelsea players have, can be happy to have this pitch at the time," he said. The manager used heavy sarcasm in addressing theories of skulduggery. "They (Barcelona) can think what they want but I think we can analyse that we have no technical players, we have no skilful players, we have just the kind of player that kicks the ball and runs: (Arjen) Robben, (Damien) Duff, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Frank Lampard. Because we have no technical players we need a potato field. So we play in a potato field."

Mourinho claimed that at least 10 Premiership pitches are as bad as or worse than Chelsea's and said his team have not trained at Stamford Bridge all season to keep the surface in the best possible condition. He expects spring to bring an improvement and said he was reluctant to relay the pitch because an injury to Scott Parker last season was down to resurfacing.

He could not resist a dig at Barcelona ahead of a tie dripping with ill-feeling from the teams' meetings in the Champions League a year ago.

"Maybe you have to ask Barcelona why they have so many knee injuries," he said. "I think in the last two or three years it was around 10. Crossed ligaments, internal ligaments, meniscus. They have a lot of problems with knees. Maybe it's because the pitch is very good - too good."

Chelsea's immediate focus is on tomorrow's FA Cup tie at home to Colchester United as they try to win the treble.

The reigning Premierships champions' most recent game was a 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough and Mourinho said he shared the blame with his players because he had not prepared the team mentally. "It's a day when you wake up and you shouldn't leave the hotel."

He knows what he wants if Chelsea overcome Colchester. "I would love, for the quarter-final, Middlesbrough-Chelsea," he said. "The easiest game for me to prepare at this moment."

Guardian Service