Chelsea 1 Burnley 1: Furious Jose Mourinho chooses words carefully in criticism of Ashley Barnes and referee Martin Atkinson

Mourinho believes Barnes should have been sent off before he made tackle on Matic

(Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho said that Ashley Barnes should have been sent off in the first-half, 30 minutes before his terrible tackle sparked an angry reaction from Nemanja Matic.

The Serbian midfielder was sent off after he rushed to confront the Burnley striker, pushing him in the face.

After cruising for much of the game, the red card turned the match, with Burnley eventually scoring an equaliser and forcing a 1-1 draw to cost the Blues two crucial points in the title race.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho launched a thinly-veiled attack on referee Martin Atkinson and the striker, pointing to four key incidents that the referee got wrong, he felt.

Barnes, insisted Mourinho, should have been sent off for a 31st minute tackle on goalscorer Branislav Ivanovic. The Chelsea boss also disagreed with Atkinson's decision to reject penalty appeals when Michael Kightly handed the ball in the 34th minute and Jason Shackell barged over Diego Costa in the 44th minute.

Mourinho, mindful of avoiding another run-in with authorities, chose his words carefully as he criticised Atkinson.

"This game had four crucial moments - minutes 30, 33, 43 and 69. This is the story of this game. I can't comment because it's difficult for me to not say the truth," Mourinho said.

Nemanja Matic is sent-off (Getty Images)

"I'm making it easy for you because if you look at these moments you know exactly what I think about the game.

"What happened to Matic was in minute 69 and minute 69 had a big relationship with minute 30 because normally that player, if I can call him a player, should have been in the shower in minute 31.

"There wouldn't have been a minute 69 if the person in charge had dealt with minute 30 properly."

When asked about Barnes' tackle, Mourinho replied: "I'll leave it with you. I'd prefer not to call it because if I call it I'm going to use some words.....

"A couple of weeks ago when I was here in the press conference after the Liverpool game in the Capital One Cup, the television subtitles had gone on and on about Diego's crimes. Well compare Diego's crimes with what happened against Burnley."

Mourinho claimed in January that there is a "clear campaign" by "people, pundits, commentators and coaches from other teams" against Chelsea and the Portuguese hinted that Saturday's events against Burnley have only solidified his belief.

"Have I seen a run of decisions like this? I don't remember. I'm happy that I'm not stupid and I understood everything a couple of months ago. I'm not in the mood to laugh," he said.

"If this story that started a couple of months ago finished today with 12 matches to play with an advantage of five points, I'd tell you we will be champions. But I don't know if the story ends here, or if there is more waiting for us."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche refused to antagonise Mourinho, though clearly disagreed with his belief that Barnes should have been sent off.

"I've only seen it as it happened. It looked like a coming together at an odd angle. Then Matic reacts in the way he did," Dyche said.

"I will look back at it again, but I haven't seen it since. But there's more to talk about than that because it was an excellent performance.

"Barnes was involved in something earlier in what sense? Playing football? A charge in the back? Is there anything else? The grass was too short?

"I have total respect for Jose Mourinho, his players and Chelsea. Fantastic manager, fantastic club."

Additional reporting from PA