Mourinho to contest FA charge

London - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho announced on Friday that he will contest the charge of improper conduct levelled by the Football Association following his side's defeat at Aston Villa last weekend.

The Portuguese was charged after entering the field of play during added time of a contentious game that ended with Mourinho's side reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Willian and Ramires.

Mourinho, who was fiercely critical of the performance of referee Chris Foy after the game, revealed that he will dispute the charge when he formally responds to the FA on Monday.

Speaking at his media briefing ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, he said: "I don't accept the charges. I have to wait until Monday and work out what I will do.

"For you, it's enough to know that, for obvious reasons, I don't accept the charges."

Members of both benches encroached onto the playing area at Villa Park immediately after Ramires's studs-up challenge on Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi, which earned him a red card.

Mourinho was sent to the stands when he again crossed the touchline to approach Foy after the referee had cleared the pitch.

The Portuguese was fined 8,000 (13,200, 9,600 euros) earlier this season after being dismissed at Cardiff City and can expect a fine of around 10,000 if he fails to overturn the latest charge.

Arsenal's trip to Stamford Bridge will mark Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game in charge of the Gunners.

Mourinho's relationship with the Arsenal manager has often been strained and was marked by a fractious exchange in February when the Chelsea manager described his opposite number as a "specialist in failure."