Mourinho angry at Carvalho

Carvalho was left furious by his omission from the starting line-up for the dramatic 1-0 victory at the JJB Stadium, with skipper John Terry and William Gallas paired together in central defence. The �19.85million signing from Porto was a key component of Chelsea's watertight defence last season, forging a highly-successful partnership alongside Terry which was thought to be Mourinho's first choice.

But Mourinho readjusted his pecking order against Wigan, prompting Carvalho to break ranks and declare it "incomprehensible" he has slipped to third in the centre-back rankings. Chelsea are understood to be highly displeased the 27-year-old thought it necessary to air his grievances in public through the media, rather than wait until his return from international duties with Portugal, who play Egypt in the Azores tonight, and then seek to raise the matter internally.

The defender is now likely to be asked to explain his outburst to club officials, and could well be facing up to a heavy fine following his outspoken comments. "I want to know why I didn't play," said Carvalho in an interview with Portuguese newspaper A Bola. "How can I explain when I don't understand it? Sincerely, I gave a lot of thought and time to myself but cannot find a valid explanation. It's totally incomprehensible.

"I don't understand why Mourinho said I have to wait for another opportunity to play this season. I don't understand the reason he put me in a group including Robert Huth, Joe Cole and Tiago. "Sincerely, I don't understand why he told me what he told me. I don't believe I'm going to be third choice. "The Premiership has begun and I will play many games, I have no doubt. It's incomprehensible that I will become third choice." One of Mourinho's greatest achievements last season was maintaining team spirit even though competition for places in the starting line-up was ferocious.

But Carvalho's outburst is a clear indication such harmony can not be taken for granted during Chelsea's title defence and with new players being recruited during each transfer window, the discontent is sure to grow. Carvalho's disillusionment at being grouped alongside Cole, Tiago and Huth will hardly boost his own popularity within the squad - not least because Cole and Tiago contributed fully to Chelsea's success last season.

But this not his first run-in with Mourinho - the two did not always see eye-to-eye at Porto - and he is anxious their relationship should not deteriorate once again. The player added: "At FC Porto I didn't have an easy life with Mourinho, especially in the year he arrived. But in time I recovered my confidence and finished in a big way. I don't want an identical situation at Chelsea."

It was not all doom and gloom at Stamford Bridge today, however, with the news Shaun Wright-Phillips will be fit for Sunday's showdown against Arsenal sure to lighten Mourinho's mood. Wright-Phillips pulled out of tonight's England friendly against Denmark with a swollen knee joint but his withdrawal was a precautionary measure and he should be given the green light to face the Gunners.