Blues boss back on the ‘campaign’ trail despite risk of further punishment
JOSE MOURINHO risked the wrath of the FA after claiming the ‘campaign’ against his side is still going on and could cost Chelsea the Premier League title.
Mourinho was incensed after being held 1-1 at home by Burnley, claiming a string of decisions by referee Martin Atkinson cost his side dearly, with Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic set to miss next Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham.
Mourinho felt Ashley Barnes should have been sent off for the challenge that prompted Matic to retaliate by pushing the Burnley striker over, and should also have seen red for an earlier push on Branislav Ivanovic. And his sense of injustice was not helped by two penalty claims that were ignored.
Last month, Mourinho was fined £25,000 and warned about his future conduct after speaking in December about a ‘campaign’ against Chelsea, and was further incensed when Diego Costa received a three-match ban for stamping soon after.
So he chose his words carefully and spoke cryptically about the incidents, outlining the minute that each perceived injustice happened rather than describing them or the players involved.
‘I am not in the mood to laugh,’ he scowled when asked about the incidents. ‘I’ll leave it with you.
‘I prefer not to call it. A couple of weeks ago when I was here after the Liverpool game, I knew already that the “Diego crimes” were going to be on and on and on. Compare Diego’s “crimes” with what happened today. I prefer just to say this game had four crucial moments: 30, 33, 43, 69.
‘And this is the story. I cannot comment as it is difficult for me not to say the truth.’
When Burnley boss Sean Dyche was told Mourinho said Barnes should have been sent off for charging Ivanovic in the back, he scoffed: ‘A charge in the back — is there anything else? Was the grass too short? I’m flummoxed by that.
‘I have total respect for Jose Mourinho, Chelsea FC and his players. I always keep my counsel about how I conduct myself. I don’t want any retaliation.’
He stressed Burnley felt aggrieved by decisions against them in their recent draw with West Brom: ‘We had a penalty not given, a push in the back not given, and we drew 2-2.
‘If decisions went our way today, c’est la vie. You hope there is balance over the course of a season.’