Merson hits out at foreign focus Warnock backs Wenger selection

The Gunners were criticised for failing to include any British players in their 16-man squad for Monday's win at home to Crystal Palace.

Mourinho said: "I believe in home players and Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich think the same.

"Especially as a foreign manager, I feel a bit responsible for the English national team and English players."

Chelsea were the first club to have no British players in their starting line-up back in 1999 when Gianluca Vialli was manager.

But despite the big-spending west London club attracting some of the best players in the world, they have maintained an English backbone to their side in skipper John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard.

Mourinho added: "You can do it without it. The best proof of that is the success of Arsenal over the past few years with a lot of foreign players.

"Supporters fall in love with players that they feel have the same feeling for the club.

In a couple of years, we will be able to answer the demands of Uefa Jose Mourinho

"You don't need to be made at the club to do that - I don't think the Chelsea supporters have any doubt that Claude Makelele very much wants Chelsea to succeed - but it does help.

"It also helps when you want to attract the best young players in the country. You must show these kids and their parents that they have a chance to succeed at the club.

"If kids of 10, 12 or 14 see Frank Lampard, John Terry and Joe Cole succeeding at the club, it's easier for them to agree to come here.

"So I would never forget my responsibility in relation to the future of kids and the youth football of the club."

Mourinho has welcomed Uefa's planned introduction of a quota system to ensure a number of home-grown players.

From 2006-07, four players in European squads will need to have come through an academy in the native country - half of which must be at the club itself.

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Mourinho insisted: "The club is making that investment in youth football. In a couple of years, we will be able to answer the demands of Uefa in relation to that.

"We need time though. We are investing a lot in that philosophy but we can't produce players in six months to be ready for next season.

"So, yes, I agree with it but only as long as there is time for the clubs to be ready."