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Jose Mourinho fires thinly veiled attack at referee Mark Clattenburg after Chelsea lose to Liverpool

Players not given the 'respect they deserve' says Chelsea manager

Tom Sheen
Stamford Bridge
Saturday 31 October 2015 19:13 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho inferred that his Chelsea players are not being able to do their job with referee decisions again costing himn in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool

The Portuguese who is now the odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager to get the sack, says that officials do not show his players the "respect they deserve".

Mourinho, who also gave a bizarre post-match interview in which he repeated the mantra "I have nothing to say", was decidedly angry in his post-match press conference, with several journalists hearing acidic responses.

The Chelsea manager was furious with Mark Clattenburg after Philippe Coutinho's first half equaliser came more than 30 seconds after the two minutes' injury time had expires, while Lucas appeared lucky to escape a second yellow card for a trip on Ramires early in the second half.

“What do you think?" Mourinho said when asked about the Lucas foul. "You are not punished by the FA. I’m punished if I tell you.

“There are things that are out of our hands,” Mourinho added. “Two minutes extra time [at the end of the first half], we concede the goal on two minutes 35 seconds.

“Then what happened in the second half everything is a consequence of some crucial moments. Moments that the stadium saw, the players more than see, the players felt it, from now, what happens is just a consequence.”

Mourinho is already the subject to two separate and continuing disciplinary procedures from the Football Association. One for his comments in the wake of defeat at home to Southampton on 3 October, and again after he attempted to enter the referees' dressing room at half-time of the defeat to West Ham last week.

Mourinho was then asked about the support from the Chelsea fans, who sang his name often throughout, and took the opportunity to make a veiled criticism of the referee Mark Clattenburg and his officials.

“As professionals they are not getting the respect they deserve. I don’t think we, myself and them, are not going to have a great Saturday dinner, even families for sure. They have the same feelings that we have and I’m really sorry with that lack of respect for professionals.”

“You are all intelligent guys. If you want to write, you write. Next press conference I will bring you nice glasses, maybe you see the game in a better way.”

Mourinho added that he did not think that he would be sacked by club owner Roman Abramovich.

One journalist asked how his team, champions just five months ago, had falled so far and been so 'comprehensively beaten' by Liverpool.

"Have you only just arrived? Did you see the game" he replied.

Additional reporting from PA

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