Mourinho looks resigned to his fate as title defence continues to crumble
JOSE MOURINHO looked resigned to his fate after yet another demoralising defeat during a dismal Premier League title defence.
Mourinho cut a forlorn figure as Christian Benteke scored Liverpool’s third goal at Stamford Bridge, already their sixth defeat of this league campaign.
He then spent half an hour after the game giving a bizarre interview to BT Sport and a Press conference in which he parroted questions and often gave one-word answers, but he insisted he will be afforded time and will not be sacked.
Mourinho was upset at referee Mark Clattenburg allowing a further 35 seconds at the end of two minutes of first-half added time — during which two-goal Philippe Coutinho equalised — and the referee’s failure to send off the already booked Lucas Leiva, who blatantly tripped Ramires. The Chelsea boss sarcastically applauded the latter decision.
Asked if Lucas should have been sent off by Clattenburg, he responded: ‘What do you think? You are not punished by the FA. I am punished if I tell you. Now I am asking you — do you think?’
Next. Mourinho was asked if the Football Association would come down hard on him if he behaved like his exuberant opposite number, Jurgen Klopp, on the touchline.
‘I cannot say because I’ll be punished,’ he replied. ‘The fourth official told me to shut up or I go out.’
Owner Roman Abramovich was absent yesterday and the feeling at Chelsea is that Mourinho’s job did not hinge on this result, but he is rapidly running out of time, despite backing from the home supporters.
The manager added: ‘I take comfort (from that) but what feeds me is not just the support of the fans. What feeds me is the recognition of our work, and the recognition is by getting results.
‘I have some players who are really sad in the dressing room. I am full of respect for them. We see it, match after match, that as professionals they are not getting the respect that they deserve. We are not going to have a great Saturday dinner.’
As for Klopp, he thinks Chelsea should stick by their man.
‘He is a great coach — nobody in this room is in any doubt that he is one of the best in the world,’ he said. ‘These things happen. I had a similar situation with Dortmund last year but I never felt pressure. I’ve got to feel for him, of course.’