Arsenal and Chelsea face each other in the biggest tie of the League Cup on Tuesday, but Jose Mourinho says the north London team have the advantage.
The Blues had a tough Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, whilst the Gunners played in the lunchtime kick-off against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Mourinho thinks this extra rest time is unfair and means Arsene Wenger’s side will be favourites for the tie as a result.
“If they want a big game, we cannot give the big game,” the 50-year-old was quoted by ITV.
“If they want the players that were playing [on Sunday], we cannot give them that.
“If they want Arsenal to win a trophy, that’s a help, because if they want a big game between two big teams in London, they should put the game on Wednesday and not on Tuesday.”
This may sound like something of a get-out clause for Mourinho who can simply blame the congestion of fixtures if the west London side are to lose at the Emirates Stadium.
Both teams have had a good start to the 2013/14 season, sitting first and second respectively in the English top tier.
The pair also have both won two of their three Champions League ties to date and are expected to pick up silverware this season.
The League Cup poses the first opportunity to do this, with Mourinho having won the trophy twice whilst in charge at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007, whilst Wenger has never triumphed in the competition.