Jose Mourinho was yesterday charged with improper conduct by the Football Association in England.

Earlier this month the Chelsea manager referred to Manchester United's players as having "cheated" during the League Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge, however the FA delayed the charge until after the completion of the tie on Wednesday night.

The FA also ruled that having reviewed comments made by Chelsea captain John Terry criticising referee Neale Barry after the match, they would not be taking any formal disciplinary action against the England defender.

Mourinho has until February 14th to respond to the charge and is likely to request a personal hearing, with his club yesterday stating: "We will deal with [the charge] in the appropriate manner."

Although the offence can carry a touchline ban, Mourinho is not expected to be punished so severely, since it is his first transgression in England. Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger was fined £15,000 earlier this season for labelling Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat and a similar sanction is likely in Mourinho's case.

Mourinho's side completed the 2-1 aggregate victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday, and the Portuguese was impressed by Alex Ferguson's graciousness in defeat.

"I am learning a lot with Sir Alex," he said yesterday before the FA charge was issued. "He helps me. I am a bad loser. I think you have to learn to lose."

Mourinho revealed Ferguson taught him a lesson in humility after Chelsea's epic semi-final victory.

Chelsea ended Ferguson's record of never having lost a domestic semi-final but Mourinho saw the other side of Ferguson the manager when he called the Chelsea boss into his office to share a bottle of wine after the game.

Mourinho, celebrating his 42nd birthday on the day, learned that sometimes, even in defeat, you have to be humble.

It is not a feeling that Mourinho has experienced often as he has yet to lose a cup round of any description as a coach.

His only cup defeat was in the final of the Portuguese competition last season.

"When I lose I am not very keen to be with other people. He showed me a lot respect and quality in that sense," he continued. "He was in his office waiting for me and my staff with a bottle of wine I gave him before the game.

"He lost a semi-final and that feeling is not good but he was there completely open and respectful. When I have this kind of teacher then one day when I lose, I must open my doors for the winner.

"He is a football man and he likes to share opinions. There was Spanish football on his television after the game so we spoke about it and the Champions League.

"It was very nice for me to start learning that you must be the same when you win or lose. Maybe one day he will beat me and I have to behave the same way.

"In our culture, when you lose a game, you don't want to share the next half-an-hour with the manager who beats you.

"I think it is great when you can have that kind of relationship before and after the game, respect and communication. I started in England because of your culture. Sir Alex's way is a fantastic way to be. He knows everything about football."

The comments contrast starkly with those of Wenger, who referred to Ferguson as "that man" after the Scot had called him "a disgrace".

However, the Chelsea manager revealed that in private his Arsenal and United counterparts enjoy a more cordial rapport. "We worked the three of us together in Geneva for a UEFA meeting," he said.

"The best time, there was a group of four: (Gerard) Houllier, me and them. One hour or two hours, closed in the same room and sharing opinions."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's legal team are thought to be preparing some form of action after Adrian Mutu's registration was released by the FA last night.

The Romania international striker is serving a seven-month worldwide ban but, with Juventus interested, he could now sign for another club. However Chelsea intend to pursue the player for some form of restitution after cancelling his contract following his failed drugs test for cocaine.

Mourinho turns his attention to the FA Cup tomorrow with a fourth round tie against Birmingham at Stamford Bridge.

He announced that Eidur Gudjohnsen would replace Didier Drogba in attack and Carlo Cudicini would return in goal in place of Petr Cech. Glen Johnson will start at right-back in place of Paulo Ferreira.

Birmingham, who yesterday agreed a fee of £6 million with Newcastle for Craig Bellamy, will be without captain Kenny Cunningham (hamstring) and on-loan Salif Diao (calf).