Mourinho wanted to break Wenger's face following war of words between the pair in 2014

Jose Mourinho wanted to “break Arsene Wenger’s face” after a spat over Juan Mata, according to a new book about the Portuguese boss.

Arsenal manager Wenger and then-Chelsea boss Mourinho’s mutual loathing came to the surface over Mata’s move from the Blues to Manchester United in January 2014.

Wenger expressed “surprise” that Chelsea would sell a “great player” to a direct rival.

He also said that Mourinho was “afraid to fail” – prompting Mourinho to call Wenger a “specialist in failure”.

It was after this exchange that Mourinho allegedly told Rob Beasley, author of Jose Mourinho, Up Close and Personal: “I will find him [Wenger] one day outside a football pitch and I will break his face”.

Beasley also claims that Mourinho referred to Wayne Rooney as “the fat boy” – even though he was desperate to sign him.

It comes as it was claimed Mourinho was "massively disappointed" to be overlooked for the Liverpool manager's job.

Former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy claims Jose was desperate to take over at Anfield in 2004 but Kop bosses instead plumped for Rafa Benitez.

Murphy told talkSPORT: “When Benitez was appointed at Liverpool, it was between him and Mourinho. I know that for a fact.

"Mourinho wanted the Liverpool job massively."