Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League's fixture schedulers have targeted Chelsea for unfair treatment and he says that they are "laughing" at the club as they attempt to cope.

The manager is unhappy that his team will play West Bromwich Albion at home today, having faced Schalke in the Champions League on Wednesday night, while England's other representatives in Europe's elite competition play their league matches tomorrow.

Manchester United take on Arsenal at Old Trafford and Manchester City travel to Sunderland. United and City played their Champions League ties last Tuesday; Arsenal on Wednesday.

Mourinho’s persecution complex has been pricked as he complained about the issue only at the end of last month, when Chelsea were made to play at Arsenal in the League Cup a little over 48 hours after their league game at home to Manchester City.

He initially threatened to play a youth team at Arsenal, only to backtrack. Chelsea’s first fixture after the international break, which follows the match against West Brom, is at West Ham United on Saturday November 23rd.

Very special
"I feel our match [against West Brom] is very special because, of every English team involved in European competitions, especially the ones involved in Champions League matches, we're the only team that plays on Saturday," Mourinho said.

“Everybody has one more day to rest. We’re the only team that plays Wednesday and Saturday.”

Mourinho added, with heavy sarcasm, that it was all “understandable” because it permitted Chelsea an extra day to prepare for the game against West Ham.

“Instead of 15 days to prepare the game against West Ham, we have 16 days, which is good,” he said, miscalculating slightly but making his point.

Mourinho confirmed that Eden Hazard was dropped for the Schalke match after losing his passport following an unsanctioned trip to France but has said the matter was closed.
Guardian Service