Arsène Wenger, Arsenal’s boss, has spoken out about the need for his counterpart at Chelsea to focus on strengthening the club by having more trust in his people, following the furore over José Mourinho’s treatment of his medical staff.

The latter has attracted widespread criticism over his reaction to team doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn running on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard towards the end of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Swansea on Saturday.

At this morning’s press conference at the Gunners’ London Colney based training grounds, a reporter - referring to the controversial way in which Mourinho has dealt with his medical staff - asked Wenger: “What relationship do you think a manager should have with his medical staff?”

A cautious Wenger replied: “If you are not united, it is more difficult. It is the trust and unity that makes the strengths.”

He said that trust in each other made the club stronger, adding, “First of all I have not followed that [story], as you know I do not have great interest about what is going on at Chelsea.

“Secondly, the rules are quite clear that when the referee gives an indication that the medic can come on, they come on. The rules are quite clear. It is the referee who makes the decision.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho has responded further to questions on the matter, telling reporters today, ahead of his team’s match at Manchester City this weekend, that he has a “very good relationship” with Chelsea’s medical team.

He is quoted on the team’s website as saying: “First of all I want to say I have a fantastic medical department with a top leader … and with more than a dozen professionals between doctors, physios, masseurs and specialists in different areas.

“As they tell me all the time, they were never praised so much as they were by me in the last couple of years.

“We need disagreements to improve; we work together and we improve together. That’s the way we do things.”

Mourinho said that when it came to the bench, in regards to the medical department, “only two go on the bench, and we are more than a dozen.

“Jon Fearn and Dr Carneiro will not be on the bench, but it doesn’t mean Sunday is the rest of our season or the rest of our careers. They will not be on the bench on Sunday, that’s clear, that’s my decision, that’s my responsibility, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be in the future.”

• Crystal Palace V Arsenal, Barclays Premier League, Sunday August 16, Selhurst Park, 1.30pm