In advance of Saturday's MLS v. Chelsea match-up, Jose Mourinho:

''What I really enjoy when I come here and play,'' he said via a conference call this week, ''is that [American teams] always play with a very good tactical approach. They play like they're the same level you are. Of course, they aren't.''

A textbook back-handed compliment from the never dull Jose. He's right, of course...but he'll have sounded pretty silly if the MLSers prevail on Saturday. In that case, I guarantee Mourinho will offer multiple excuses. Bets on whether "we didn't really try to win" or "the refs wanted to the crowd to go home happy" will be the first excuse offered?

FF