Mourinho continues Wenger dispute

Wenger vows not to be silenced

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has continued his war of words with Arsene Wenger, saying the Arsenal boss refuses to accept his team are now second best.

The duo have been involved in a furious week-long dispute which began when Mourinho labelled Wenger a "voyeur".

Now in the seventh successive day of jibes between the pair, Mourinho has written: "Arsene has shown difficulty understanding his life has changed.

"He is trying to deflect the truth about the rise of Chelsea."

Mourinho, in his column in a Portuguese newspaper, added: "Wenger is a great coach and an intelligent person but he is having difficulty continuing the success which made him, with all merit, a top manager.

"I admit it can't be easy, but then he gets to have a go at us.

"I'm the one who is famous for being a disturber but I stick to doing my work.

MOURINHO v WENGER MOURINHO SAID: "He is one of these people who is a voyeur" Full story WENGER SAID: "I find it out of order and disconnected Full story MOURINHO SAID: "We have a file of quotes from Mr Wenger about Chelsea" Full story WENGER SAID: "If I'm attacked then I respond" Full story MOURINHO SAID: "If he's ready to apologise, I'm ready to do the same" Full story WENGER SAID: "I will still give my opinion about Chelsea if I want to" Full story MOURINHO SAID: "Arsene is trying to deflect the truth about the rise of Chelsea"

"We are not playing well in the Champions League and they are not in the Premiership, so the best thing is for us both to work to improve."

Mourinho's latest outburst could land the 42-year-old in hot water with the Football Association, which had already asked both men to end their dispute.

It began when Mourinho criticised Wenger on Monday for commenting on his team and neither man has shown any signs of backing down so far.

Wenger has threatened to take action Mourinho for calling him a "voyeur" and will make his decision during the forthcoming international break.

But the Frenchman was furious when he said comments attributed to him labelling Mourinho "stupid" were twisted by the media.

Before his latest outburst Mourinho had offered to apologise as long as Wenger did the same, but such a simple conclusion now appears unlikely.

On Friday, Wenger warned Mourinho that he would not be silenced and would continue to speak about the Premiership champions.

"I will still give my opinion about Chelsea if I want to. Nothing will stop me doing that. We are not in a dictatorship," said Wenger.

The two bosses have been urged by League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell as well as the FA and their own clubs to end the row.

It is thought Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon telephoned Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman on Thursday in an attempt to defuse the war of words.