Button your lip, Ferguson advises Mourinho

MANCHESTER, England, Mar 2 (Reuters) Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho to ''button his lip'' and stop talking about referees.

The Portuguese claimed this week that Premier League leaders United have profited from a lucky streak - a late winner against Fulham last weekend following fortuitous refereeing decisions in recent victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Lille.

Ferguson said Mourinho's track record with officials gave him no grounds for complaint.

''Jose has come out this week with stuff about us and we expected that. He's on about referees and I think he's the last person who should ever talk about referees,'' Ferguson told a news conference today.

''His football club have been involved in so many things about referees over the last couple of years.'' Ferguson added: ''It seems to me that if you contest against Chelsea and they don't get their own way then something happens, either (with) referees or players threatened and things like that.

It's an incredible club.

''There's plenty to talk about with Jose and referees and Chelsea and referees. I have got a file, but we'll leave that for another day.

''So I think he should button his lip now for the rest of the season.'' Ferguson had anticipated some verbal jousting from Stamford Bridge after United opened up a nine-point gap over the defending champions at the top.

The United manager has hitherto avoided any of his famous psychological ploys in this season's title race, preferring his team to do his talking on the pitch.

''I think we're doing the right thing. I think I'm relying on my players,'' Ferguson said.

''I think we can expect a lot of them to come out with things now. (Claude) Makelele has had something to say, (Michael) Ballack, they're all having a say now, which is good.

''We have probably tried these things ourselves in the past.

They're entitled to their opinion. I have no problems with that.

But I think we have some answers.'' WIN INCENTIVE United could open up a 12-point advantage, albeit for only a few hours before Chelsea's evening game at Portsmouth, on Saturday if they can become the first team to win a league game at Liverpool this season.

A point might be considered a decent return for United in what looks to be one of the hardest of their remaining 10 games.

But Ferguson insisted that his team will adopt their usual positive approach.

''It's a game which can shape the title of course. There's plenty of speculation about what happens if you win or if you don't win,'' he said.

''We know it's always going to be a hard game at Anfield, the same as they would look on it as a hard game for them too.

''The important thing is to go there and express ourselves as we have all season and enjoy it.

''We are looking at an opportunity to consolidate ourselves in a really strong position and that's the incentive we are looking at.'' Reuters PDS DB2126