'Shut up' UEFA tell Jose

Mourinho claimed again last night that referee Anders Frisk had influenced the result at the Nou Camp and launched a stinging attack on UEFA, accusing them of misrepresenting his comments regarding Pierluigi Collina's appointment for tonight's game.

But UEFA hit back almost immediately, defending Frisk's reputation and telling Mourinho to "shut up" and concentrate on the game.

Chelsea are already facing two UEFA investigations following events at the Nou Camp but will not be charged again following Mourinho's latest outburst.

Director of Communications, William Gaillard, said: "It does not help to keep up with this polemic. Only Mr Mourinho saw a problem with the referee, no one else, and nothing scandalous happened. Frisk did an excellent job and he's been a great referee for many years.

"I am sorry that a great coach, who has brought something new to football, should talk about these things. I don't see the point, he should shut up and play the game. Will we still be talking about Barcelona v Chelsea next year?" Chelsea are likely to be incensed by Gaillard's latest intervention, having already expressed dismay at UEFA's handling of a tense situation.

In his weekly column in a Portuguese magazine on Saturday Mourinho wrote that he expected Collina to take charge of the second leg against Barcelona, leading to suggestions from UEFA that he was trying to influence their choice of official.

Chelsea suspect that no one at UEFA has even read the original comments and Mourinho went on the offensive, claiming he wanted Frisk appointed in the hope he would remedy the perceived injustices of the first leg.

Mourinho said: "I didn't ask for Collina to referee the game and it's a shame that an institution of the size and importance of UEFA have misrepresented what I said and put my words in the air. I did not ask for Collina but I recognise that he's the best referee in the world.

"Every manager and player would say he's the best referee in the world and why's that? Because he's the type of referee who doesn't have any influence on the game.

"If you asked me who I wanted I would have said Frisk. Maybe Frisk would help us the same way he helped them. But because I cannot have Frisk let the best person come. We need a referee that doesn't influence the result because in the first game the referee influenced the result."

Unsurprisingly, Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard backed UEFA's stance, urging them to take action against Chelsea and having a subtle dig at Mourinho's behaviour.

Rijkaard said: "The accusations [from the first leg] were completely false and I don't want to spend any more time on them. I hope the federation, UEFA, will handle the case.

"Everyone has the right to say what they want and act the way they prefer. If he's happy with that then I'm not going to complain. That's one of the nice things about the world of football. It would be boring if everybody was the same."

Meanwhile, Joe Cole will start what is surely the biggest game of his life as one of three Chelsea attackers tonight, a sure sign of how he has progressed under Mourinho. Having begun the season as a squad player - and with Mourinho's public criticisms ringing in his ears - he has taken advantage of Arjen Robben's injury to produce the best football of his life.

He said: "I feel very comfortable and it's a great game to play in. I've learnt so much working with Jose Mourinho and the team and I've definitely come on as a player. I'm improving and I'm ready to hold down a regular place in the side. Possibly with England as well.

"We've read a lot of things that have been said and just want to get on with the game. You can say anything you want but what happens on the pitch is the most important. We felt a bit hard done by with a few decisions in the first leg but that's football. Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't."