Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports: Chelsea manager labels Ashley Barnes tackle 'criminal'

Chelsea manager looked to set the record straight on Goals on Sunday

Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports (SKY SPORTS)

Jose Mourinho has accused Sky Sports of lacking impartiality in reference to how they have treated Diego Costa.

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The Chelsea manager was referring to the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, when Sky Sports had shown a series of clips of the Chelsea striker's fouls captioned “Costa crimes”.

During an intense appearance on Goals on Sunday, Mourinho also took the opportunity to label an unpunished tackle by Ashley Barnes on Nemanja Matic during yesterday's match against Burnley as "criminal".

The Chelsea manager, who appeared on the show at his own request, also suggested decisions are going against his side "week after week".

Here's what he had to say...

On yesterday's 1-1 draw with Burnley during which Matic was sent off for his reaction to Barnes' challenge: "What can I say that everybody doesn't know? There are some incidents in matches where there is space for discussion and different opinions and explanations. You have a point of view, I have a point of view, but there are actions when there is clearly only one point of view. These four incidents are clear for everyone."

On decisions going against Chelsea: "The best players in the world make mistakes. This gentleman [Martin Atkinson] is one of the top referees in European football, he can also make mistakes. He clearly made four important mistakes yesterday. He is like the lawyer who is consistent because he lost 15 of 15 cases. You don't want that lawyer.

"The Diego Costa penalty story started on day one of the season. He should have had a penalty against Burnley in the first game of the season and he got booked for a dive. We have this history since day one. I remember one decision all season that went our way and that was a doubtful one.

"I am risking my place in the dugout for the [League Cup] final by having this discussion. I cannot go too far. But the reality is that week after week we are having these decisions [against us]. Football is football, but I think it is too much. I think my players don't deserve that. Yesterday I was calm in the press conference but my players are not getting the respect they deserve."

Nemanja Matic is sent-off (Getty Images)

On Sky Sports: "When I finished the game against Liverpool I went to the dressing room and I was reading non-stop about Diego Costa's crimes. I would like to know how do you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of a Burnley player yesterday? My English is not good enough to find an adjective to qualify. I don't find a word to describe.

"The challenge from Ashley Barnes on Nemanja Matic can be the end of a career. I cannot find an adjective to describe it. It is end of career. Nemanja Matic is a very lucky guy. Another club would have the power to appeal Matic's red card."

On honesty: "I am not attacking the honesty, the dignity of anyone. I am not trying to - and in this country you love this sentence - 'bring the game into disrepute.' I am trying to be honest.

"If we are in a normal situation when decision sometimes go for us, sometimes go against us, we could be five points clear, we could be 12. It could be 12 points."

On referees: "The referees are trying, of course they are trying, but they are not doing well. It is not fair. That is not my opinion, that is in the eyes of everyone.

"How would I improve it? If the referee cannot see a penalty three metres in front of him, some official in front of a screen cannot miss it. If we want to protect the integrity and the honesty of referees. If we believe that mistakes - and I believe - are because of the unpredictability of the game then technology can help. If I was a referee I would welcome it.

"I spoke to the referee after the game, Mr Atkinson told me he didn't have the chance to see on TV the incidents. I asked him if he had any contact with people from outside of the ground, he said he had no feedback at all. He said that he didn't see any of the four incidents. He saw no reason for a penalty or a card in any of the actions."