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Jose told West Brom aren't Mickey Mouse

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West Brom boss Alan Irvine today told Jose Mourinho "we are no Mickey Mouse club" as the Baggies prepare to take on Chelsea.

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Deja vu? Recap on Jose Mourinho's rant after West Brom held his Chelsea side to a 2-2 draw in their last game at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago.

Irvine launched a staunch defence of his club, ahead of their first game at Stamford Bridge since Mourinho's infamous 'Mickey Mouse' rant at Baggies players a year ago.

But the Hawthorns head coach insisted his players will not need extra motivation tomorrow from their run-in with Mourinho in November 2013.

Irvine said: "It hasn't been mentioned by any of the players but one or two members of staff have mentioned it.

"Things happen and things are said in the heat of the moment. But we aren't a Mickey Mouse club.

"We're a club that are run extremely well, a club that have fantastic support and you can't be a Premier League club and be a Mickey Mouse club.

"I don't see an awful lot in it. People say and do things in the heat of the moment and perhaps regret them later."

Mourinho hit out at the Baggies' players in the tunnel, after the Blues claimed a controversial late equaliser in stoppage time against Steve Clarke's side last season.

It came thanks to a dubious penalty for an alleged foul on midfielder Ramires. Several senior players squared up to the Chelsea boss, but Irvine does not believe it will play a part tomorrow.

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He said: "I don't think they need to motivate themselves in any other way because of the magnitude of the game. It's a game they should all be looking forward to.

"When you're a young lad, you dream of being a professional footballer and you dream of playing in the biggest games and this is a really big game for us."

Irvine insists Albion must try to take the game to Mourinho's men, adding: "We can't be passive.

"If we sit back and let them have the ball and try to soak up pressure for 90 minutes then, eventually, they will open us up."

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