Soccer: Mourinho in peace move

COBHAM, England - Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho sought to defuse a heated row with Arsene Wenger today, saying he never intended to hurt his Arsenal counterpart.

"Of course this is not a personal thing," Mourinho said at Chelsea's training ground. "Of course the intention is not to hurt the man, the human being, of course not."

The feud has bubbled all week with Arsenal's Wenger threatening legal action after Mourinho accused him of behaving like a "voyeur" obsessed with Chelsea.

Asked whether he was prepared to apologise for the jibe, Mourinho said: "If he is ready to apologise from Highbury about the quotes and quotes and quotes about Chelsea, I'm ready to do the same."

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has contacted Arsenal in a peace move, telephoning managing director Keith Edelman today, Chelsea sources said.

Kenyon wanted to assure Arsenal there was no sinister or personal intent in Mourinho's criticism. The FA was in touch with both clubs on Wednesday.

After Chelsea's 4-2 win against Blackburn last weekend Mourinho accused Wenger of apparently coveting his job because of the number of comments he has made about champions Chelsea.

Today, however, he said: "I have respect for the human being because he's a successful man and nobody helped him to arrive where he arrived...then as a manager it's the same. He did good things.

"But too many quotes about Chelsea, some hard...some funny...but I think it's enough." Mourinho has said Chelsea have compiled a file of 120 pages full of Wenger quotes about their club over the last year.

Mourinho said both managers had more important things to worry about.

"I have problems to solve in my club because I lost a game and I want to do better. He has problems in his club because they are not doing as well as they need to in the Premiership. So it's better for us to work and forget this," he said.

Chelsea lost their first match of the season in regular time on Tuesday when they went down 1-0 in the Champions League at Real Betis with a dismal performance.

Arsenal won 3-0 against Sparta Prague at Highbury on Wednesday and have qualified for the next stage but they are struggling 14 points adrift of Chelsea domestically.

Mourinho, whose side deposed Arsenal as English champions, has had a uneasy relationship with Wenger since last season's "tapping-up" scandal when Arsenal full back Ashley Cole met Mourinho and Kenyon without permission.

- REUTERS