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Jose Mourinho defended Diego Costa after the striker twice appeared to stamp on opponents during Chelsea's victory over Liverpool which earned a place in the Capital One Cup final.
A Branislav Ivanovic header in the fourth minute of extra-time edged a frenetic, ill-tempered clash with Liverpool 1-0 as the Blues advanced to the March 1 final 2-1 on aggregate.
Costa was involved in three of the game's main talking points - stamps on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel - and a Chelsea penalty appeal when tripped by Skrtel.
Mourinho railed against Costa's critics, one unnamed television pundit in particular, who is understood to be former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp.
Show all 24 1 /24Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Chelsea: Thibaut Courtois A very steady game from a keeper with lots of confidence. His main highlight was when he stormed out of his goal to claim the ball before Raheem Sterling could knock it past him. Even when there wasn’t much to be concerned about he remained alert and instructed his defence accordingly. 7/10
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Branislav Ivanovic As usual he choose when to go forward extremely well. Occasionally, though, he bypassed a little too easy by Alberto Moreno. Raheem Sterling also caused him trouble whenever the young English player, playing as a false nine, chose to move wide to the left. His redeeming moment came in the first half of extra-time when he headed powerfully past Simon Mignolet. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Kurt Zouma Made a sloppy error to let Raheem Sterling advance towards the Chelsea penalty area but used his pace to get back and prevent any danger. He was left exposed when he committed himself too early allowing Philippe Coutinho to get one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois. 4
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings John Terry Had to help Nemanja Matic and Kurt Zouma when both made errors that would have placed Chelsea under threat if he had not have intervened. He was awarded a yellow card when he slid into the back of Raheem Sterling. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Felipe Luis Another fairly average game for a player who is yet to solidify his place at left back. He was stifled by Jordan Henderson and struggled to get forward because Liverpool would use the overlap. Replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta on 78 minutes. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Nemanja Matic Contested an exciting battle with Steven Gerrard. He has the ability to be dangerous when going forward but fluffed an effort outside the Liverpool penalty area in the first half that he really should have connected better with. Still he did provide strength in the midfield and Lucas Leiva had a difficult time trying to get around him. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Cesc Fabregas Reunited with Nemanja Matic in the two holding positions of central midfield, he seemed tentative to advance too far with the ball and more than once lose the ball to either Lucas Leiva or Jordan Henderson in the Liverpool midfield. He was replaced on 49 minutes by Ramires after picking up a knock. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Eden Hazard Used his pace and energy to worry Emre Can and Lazar Markovic on the right side of Liverpool’s defensive line. Should have done better with the through ball to Oscar shortly before half time. Shortly before the hour mark he beat three Liverpool players on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area but could only drag his left-footed shot wide. His attempt from 40 yards in the 87th minute was a little ambitious, though. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Oscar Linked up expertly with Diego Costa in the first half. He also gave Willian and Eden Hazard a place to play the ball when they needed to regroup. Even towards the closing stages, when he tired a little, he remained a constant threat to the Liverpool defence as Steven Gerrard found it difficult to track him. 7
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Willian Due to Liverpool exploiting both flanks, particularly Chelsea’s right, he was required in a more defensive capacity than usual. That did not stop him racing forward whenever the opportunity presented itself. Had he been able to press further forward more often he may have provided an alternative to the Chelsea attack. Played a beautiful free kick into the Liverpool area which was powerfully headed down and beyond Simon Mignolet. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Diego Costa Tenacious from the start. Should have been sent off for a blatant stamp on the ankle of Emre Can. In the second half he did the same to Martin Skrtel was that also went unpunished. Chelsea’s top scorer enjoyed more of the ball in the second half as his midfield behind him closed the gap behind them and him. Saw his strong left-footed effort blocked. 7
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings From the bench: Ramires He came on after 49 minutes and he energy did help Nemanja Matic who was having to contend with both Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva. His audacious and frankly woeful effort from 25 yards was unnecessary. He is fitness did become more effective as the game wore on and rarely stopped searching for Willian and Eden Hazard on either wing. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Liverpool: Simon Mignolet After a recent drop in form, the Liverpool had one of his best nights in goal for the Reds. He pulled off a fantastic save after Diego Costa’s shot from the edge of the Liverpool box was deflected by Martin Skrtel. And when Costa got free in the Liverpool area, he stood firm to sweep the ball away from the control of the Spain forward. He was eventually beaten by a powerful header from Branislav Ivanovic. There wasn’t must he could have done about that, though. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Emre Can He wasn’t best pleased when Diego Costa stamped on his ankle early in the first half but that only seemed to fire him up as he was bold and aggressive in his play from then on. He handled Eden Hazard reasonably well and supported the midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva, as well as Jordan Henderson, who was playing slightly ahead of the German. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Martin Skrtel He found it difficult to cope with the strength of Diego Costa and made a clumsy challenge on the Spain forward but remarkably referee Michael Oliver didn’t point to the spot. He had plenty to complain about when the Spain forward stamped on him in the second half, though referee Michael Oliver didn’t spot the offence. His battle with the striker continued throughout the match and the defender will be happy with how he kept composed. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Mamadou Sakho The weak link in the Liverpool defence. Replaced by Glen Johnson on 56 minutes after taking a knock. He has a tendency to play too cautiously when involved in a match with a lot a pressure and that is what happened against Chelsea. Rather than play the ball forward to Alberto Moreno or Jordan Henderson he decided to roll it to his central defensive partners. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Lazar Markovic One of the only Liverpool players to find himself not really involved in much of the play whatsoever. He was meant to penetrate the left side yet Alberto Moreno did that much more effectively which meant Markovic had to retreat into the middle where he isn’t comfortable. Replaced by Mario Balotelli on 70. 4
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Alberto Moreno Ever since he’s been played in the left wing back role he’s looked confident and composed. He is naturally gifted as a defender but is also fit enough to race forward at a moment’s notice on the counter attack. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Lucas Leiva He gave Steven Gerrard far too much work to do at times. He can be an effective player but not when presented with obstacles such as Nemanja Matic whom he struggled against. It didn’t help that Lazar Markovic tried to move forward at virtually every opportunity which meant Leiva was anchored to a defensive midfield role. He did move forward once Raheem Sterling moved out wide when Rickie Lambert came on but Leiva was flagging by then. 5
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Steven Gerrard Worked hard to stop Nemanja Matic advancing too far into the Liverpool half. The Reds will obviously miss his ability to galvanise the team when he goes but what they may not miss is how slow he has become when the opposition breaks forward. In those situations Liverpool are down to ten men and against Chelsea you leave your teammates helpless. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Jordan Henderson His poor pass back nearly allowed Diego Costa a free route to goal. Didn’t always look comfortable playing so deep and had to contend with the speed and trickery of Eden Hazard. 6
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Phillipe Coutinho Never made it easy for the Chelsea defence. He made Kurt Zouma look stupid when the Brazilian sold him a dummy before his shot one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois was saved. His confidence when passing the ball means that a defence can be easily cut open - Chelsea realised his danger too many times and were lucky that his teammates weren’t so prolific. 7
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings Raheem Sterling A persistent pest to the Chelsea defence. He never stopped looking for ways to attack the Blues’ goal whether that be from inside the area or outside. His quick feet were too much for Chelsea captain John Terry who earned himself a yellow card when he slid into him. 7
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Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 player ratings From the bench: Mario Balotelli Made three notable contributions to the match. He came on, ran down the left before he lost the ball ball shortly after coming on and blazed over from the edge of the Liverpool area. He continues to be dreadful and is generally at his best when defending throw ins. His sulking at the end of the game was fairly pathetic, too. 2
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"I don't know what you understand by stamp," Mourinho said. "I think maybe you are already influenced by... I'm going to use a word which put me in trouble but I think this time I cannot be punished to say that there is a campaign on the television with a certain pundit that is saying Diego Costa 'crimes'. This guy must be nuts.
"I saw the incidents. About the penalty, I don't speak. I prefer not to speak. If I comment I will be in trouble and I don't want to be.
"What you call stamps and Sky calls crimes, I have to say absolutely accidental. He goes to the ball, he chases the ball, as the opponent is on the floor, they have a contact, he puts his foot there when he's looking to the ball.
"Great campaign. We know how much that pundit loves Chelsea and particularly loves me.
"When you are there and you are paid and you are very well paid - much more than some managers that have to put their ass, every 90 minutes, every weekend on the bench.
"These guys, they have a very good seat, very good money, no pressure. They are always right. They never lose, they always win, but they have to be fair and they have to be honest."
Mourinho declined to name names, adding: "Forget it. Let's go to Wembley. Come on. I don't know his name, because when I see him I switch off the television."
Costa could face retrospective punishment from the Football Association for the stamps, particularly the one on Can which came in front of the dugouts.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said: "He's an outstanding player, an outstanding footballer.
"He has this edge to him. With Emre Can, that was poor, I felt. He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty.
"And again the one with Martin Skrtel. There's no need to do it. That's the sad thing of it. He's a top-class player and he's clever enough that the officials don't see it.
"It was poor from him. He doesn't need to do it. It wasn't good for the game. The referee didn't see it. When you see it afterwards, it's disappointing."
PA
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