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Soccer

Mourinho aims dig at Wenger, says he would never refuse a handshake

By FoxSports
Published | Updated
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Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) and Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger (R) watch from the side during the FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in north London on August 2, 2015. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK -- NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has had a fresh dig at Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, saying he would never refuse a handshake "out of respect".

Wenger appeared to purposely avoid a handshake with Mourinho at the end of Sunday's Community Shield clash at Wembley.

Mourinho said afterwards that it was "not a story", but the Portuguese insists it is not something he would ever do and also made reference to Wenger pushing him on the touchline last season.

He told talkSPORT: "I think the person is one thing, the manager is one thing; it is one thing on the streets, one thing in the football stadium. In a stadium I never refused a handshake with a rival. Out of respect for my club, respect for football, I never refused a handshake with a manager in a football stadium.

"Last season I had fantastic behaviour on the touchline...I was never sent to the stand. I was [even] pushed in the technical area by another manager and it was a good experience - I kept my emotional control."

Mourinho also expressed concern over the fitness of Diego Costa, adding: "He didn't finish the season and doesn't start the season, and that doesn't make me happy. I am not speaking against the boy, the boy is trying hard, but it is not a good feeling for him, and not a good feeling for me."

On John Terry, Mourinho said: "Nobody can expect him to play every minute of the Premier League season. You cannot expect him to repeat that. But I know he can have a very good season.

"I don't think he will play for England again, and I don't think Roy Hodgson will come with that proposal to him. Roy has very good young defenders in the country...and John is not thinking about it. He thinks his time in the national team is over."