Yahoo News Jose Mourinho stokes Tottenham vs Arsenal rivalry: 'You only enjoy problems of others when you’re in trouble'
Jose Mourinho has stoked the fires ahead of next Sunday's north London derby by saying Arsenal are only enjoying Tottenham's problems because they are "also in trouble" and have so little to celebrate.
Mourinho's comments were in response to a Facebook post from the Gunners' official account, which poked fun at Tottenham's 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United on Thursday.
The morning after the game, Arsenal posted a highlights video of their 2-1 win over the Blades last month with the caption, 'It's not easy beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Here's a reminder of how it's done' and accompanied by the eyes and wink emojis.
The Spurs boss acknowledged that it was likely the work of an individual rather than a reflection of the club, but nonetheless said it was symptomatic of Arsenal's season.
"I think if they were top of the League or fighting for top four in a really good moment they wouldn't enjoy the problems of others," he said.
"You only enjoy the problems of others when you are also in trouble. In the end it says more about them, they don't have much to celebrate [so] they have to get every opportunity to do it. They are in a very similar situation to us in the table.
"I don't like to connect the club with some post or tweet," the Spurs manager added.
"Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am right, but the person that did it probably did by themselves.
It's not easy beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane 👀 Here's a reminder of how it's done 😉👇
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"I don't believe that was [Arsenal boss Mikel] Arteta that posted, I don't believe it was [Granit] Xhaka or another captain that did it. It was probably some guy that was at home for three months working from home. No problem at home, but we will be waiting for them [on Sunday]."
Mourinho was speaking before Arsenal's 2-0 win at Molineux on Saturday, which moved Arteta's side four points clear of their rivals and raised the possibility they could end Tottenham's run of consecutive finishes as the top team in north London.
Mourinho admitted that he regards Arsenal with "different eyes" to the rest of the Premier League but said Spurs should have bigger ambitions than local bragging rights.
"To be the champion of north London means nothing for me because I think you have to be much bigger than that and have much more ambitions than that," he said.
"But I always look to the rivals of my clubs with different eyes. As you know I have been in so many big clubs with so many special rivals so I don't hide that Arsenal in this moment is a very special rival. Yes, I would like to finish in a better position in the table than them.
"But again I want my team to be bigger than that, I want my club to feel bigger than that. I understand that for the fans it is a special rivalry and what is special for the fans is special for me and I want it to be special for the players."
Before Arsenal's first visit to Spurs' new stadium, Mourinho side's entertain Everton on Monday and travel to struggling Bournemouth on Thursday.
The Portuguese was fiercely critical of his players' mental strength after losing to the Blades but he promised an improve attitude against the Toffees.
"I like the players, I keep saying I like the players very, very much," he said. "I believe in the players.
"I cannot promise we are going to win on Monday because football is football but I can promise you that the players are going to have a different attitude, I want to believe that.
"For some reason, for so many months, a couple of years, the team is showing, especially away from home, lots of weaknesses at this level."
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