Mourinho outburst raises stakes

Mourinho has already shown that he has little time for the politically correct lobby in football. He says what he thinks and, if that upsets people, then too bad.

What he did acknowledge as an inescapable fact, though, was the quality of United's defending as they went some way towards protecting Ferguson's record of 10 successive-undefeated domestic cup semifinals.

After the embarrassing FA Cup draw with lowly Exeter, the abrasive Scot would have been greatly encouraged by the disciplined performance that clearly puts United in the driving seat for the second leg at Old Trafford on January 26. Mourinho's Champions League win with Porto last season and his gallop of victory along the Old Trafford pitch must still rankle with him.

The United manager has dismissed suggestions that Chelsea could win an unprecedented four trophies this season and perhaps the desire to halt them was what prompted him to abandon plans to persist with some of the youngsters who knocked out Arsenal in the last round and faced Exeter on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha, just back from injury, gave United a cutting edge but, in the final analysis, it was the defensive players who had most influence on the course of the game.

Chelsea had the better chances, and more of them, but they were unable to impose themselves on a United defence that played exceptionally well despite the absence of two key players - Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand. "I give United credit for the way they played," said Mourinho.

"If we can go to Old Trafford and defend like they did I will be pleased.

"I don't think they have an advantage in the second leg. For me it's still 50-50, just as it was at the beginning of this game.

"We were unlucky not to score last night but, many times, teams have control and create chances but don't score, so I have to accept the result."

Mourinho's attacking line-up dominated an absorbing first half with Damien Duff and Frank Lampard the critical figures in generating Chelsea's impetus. As early as the 11th minute the elusive Duff, capitalising on a flash of trickery from Joe Cole, swept in from the right and hit a thunderous left-foot shot just over the bar. Lampard was close, too, with a glancing header just wide of a post before United had their first good chance in the 38th minute. Although first-team outings have been rare this season for Carlo Cudicini, the Chelsea goalkeeper demonstrated great agility and sharpness with a flying save from Rooney's well-placed header.

Lampard created a wonderful chance just after the interval, shrugging off two challenges in the penalty box before releasing a low shot that Gabriel Heinze cleared off the line. Then the energetic Lampard set up a chance for substitute Didier Drogba, but this time Tim Howard saved acrobatically.

Mourinho sent on Mateja Kezman and new signing Jiri Jarosik, who would have provided the winning goal in the 83rd minute had it not been for the goalline intervention of Howard and Phil Neville.

Right at the end of a red-blooded clash that was largely free of violent conduct, tempers frayed briefly when Drogba and Ronaldo squabbled over the ball at a throw-in.

The referee booked both for an incident that showed just how important both teams consider a competition that seemed to be dying of indifference just two or three years ago.