Brian Reade in the Mirror:
‘So what lessons did you learn from the year's first showdown between the world's two richest clubs? That Manchester United's fans are panicking so much about their dodgy keepers they won't hand the ball back? That if Ronaldo's dives get any worse he'll replace Peter Kay in John Smith's top bombing adverts? Or that Sir Alex Ferguson bullies referees so severely they spend half-time yodelling into the toilet pan?
‘That’s what Jose Mourinho wants us to take from the Carling Cup semi. And by spreading the word that United will employ any low blow to keep up with his mighty Chelsea, he wants us to think that when it comes to mind games, he's the new daddy.
‘But I don't buy it. I think the pressure of managing in the most savagely demanding league in the world is finally getting to Mourinho, and Wednesday's outburst was a crude distraction from a performance that confirms his side are not as great as some have hyped them up to be. He knows that. And is trying to avoid the confidence slump that would hit his team if they realise it too.
‘Calling Fergie and ref Neale Barry cheats is a wild and dangerous distraction from his own side's inadequacies. It is also wildly inaccurate when Chelsea won more free-kicks than United in the second half. But then accusations of such severity will always camouflage other statistics.
‘Like Chelsea having less shots on target than United. Or United's stonewall penalty. Or why a Chelsea side missing only Petr Cech and Arjen Robben struggled to break down a United side missing Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
‘Mourinho's trying to cocoon them from the truth for as long as possible. But Fergie is right when he says a blip is inevitable and, when it happens, Chelsea's mettle will be tested. How will they cope if Barcelona turf them out of the Champions League? How mentally strong will they be throughout seven days in April, when they could face a Champions League quarter-final, followed by games against United (away) and Arsenal?
‘Well, when the pressure gets white-hot, Mourinho can't complain. To talk about winning a quadruple in your first season in the world's toughest league is foolhardy. To suggest you'll probably have the title won a fortnight before the end of the season, is asking to be kicked in the face.
‘Mourinho is great for English football. But he needs reminding that a year ago only anoraks had heard of him. He's come a long way very quickly and had plenty of luck, not least in taking over a top-quality side, awash with money, that only needed fine-tuning.
‘He should remember that. And so should Terry and co, before their arrogance makes football's envy of their wealth turn to loathing. They should forget this wildly presumptuous talk of sweeping all before them and blaming everyone but themselves when things go wrong, and concentrate on winning the league.’