Everton announced yesterday that they would be making an official complaint to the Football Association after Mourinho described Johnson as "untrustworthy" and implied that the England international was a player who dived.

His remarks caused Everton and Johnson's agent to issue a joint statement calling for a retraction.

The Toffees have also taken legal advice over Mourinho's remarks, which they claim question Johnson's "professionalism and integrity".

Mourinho said today: "First I would like to say I have the utmost respect for Everton Football Club, David Moyes and their players. That's why I love to play them, and especially at Goodison Park where the atmosphere is magnificent.

"Secondly, after the match I was clear and said Andy Johnson is a great player and I never used aggressive words, like some managers did against my players in previous seasons, or like some others recently said about him and Ronaldo. I never used the word 'cheat'.

"After seeing it again on the video, (referee) Mr Halsey did wonderful work and both decisions for penalties were correct. Did Andy Johnson try to avoid a collision with my goalkeeper? It seems now the answer to that is yes so Everton, his manager and he deserve my apologies."

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