Mourinho: History not a factor

Mourinho is adamant his focus is only on the future as the Premier League champions face the FA Cup winners in the season curtain raiser.

Yet he would be scratching his head and asking himself why it was happening if he had endured a winless run like Wenger's against a rival.

"I don't think about what happened before, I just think about the game," Mourinho said.

"For me, six, seven, eight or nine matches without losing makes (no) difference and I don't think affects this game.

"For me there is no relation between one game and what happened before."

Asked what he would be thinking if the roles were reversed, Mourinho said: "I think I would ask myself why. I would to try to answer but not because of a mental block but because I would want to try to find solutions to help my team to do it.

"Try to find a different way, try to find the reasons why it goes all the time against my team. But just that."

Mourinho says he has never been on the wrong end of such a run, referencing only successive defeats against the same boss but different teams and in different seasons.

"I lost twice against Tony Pulis," said Mourinho, after pausing to think.

"I lost against Palace (in March 2014) and against West Bromwich (in May 2015). One game each."

The Blues boss considers Sunday's match to be more important than pre-season friendlies, but thinks it has little impact on the season.

"It's not a friendly game but it's not a statement for the season," Mourinho said.

"Arsenal last season won the Community Shield against the champions (Manchester City) and finished third.

"It's not a friendly. But I don't think it has a relation to the rest of the season."

Chelsea will come up against a familiar foe in Petr Cech this summer.

Cech left Stamford Bridge after 11 years after falling behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order in a move sanctioned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Asked about facing Cech, Mourinho said: "I did it already. Inter against Chelsea. No problem."

It has been argued Cech has filled a problem position for the Gunners.

"I don't agree with you," Mourinho added. "I never felt weaknesses in their keepers."

Mourinho was reluctant to speak further about Cech and is nonplussed about the reception the 33-year-old will receive from Chelsea supporters.

"I'm not interested. I'm interested in the reception Chelsea fans will give to Chelsea players," Mourinho said.

Asmir Begovic has replaced Cech and Radamel Falcao has come in for Didier Drogba, despite the Colombian striker having a below-par season on loan at Manchester United from Monaco last term.

"We are happy with him and he performs and they give us what we want," Mourinho said.

"To become again a super scorer, let's see what happens. But for the moment we are happy."

Diego Costa is fit for Wembley despite withdrawing from the pre-season clash with Barcelona in the United States with a feared recurrence of his hamstring problems.

Mourinho said: "I believe (Costa is free of injury), but I'm not worried about it. I go match after match.

"(We have) three top strikers. If one is injured we have two. No concerns, no protections. It's a position where we're very strong."

The Chelsea boss is short of options in defence, but refused to discuss the Blues' bid to prise defender John Stones from Everton and left-back Baba Rahman from Augsburg.

"I don't speak about players from other clubs, especially now competition starts," the Portuguese added.