Jose Mourinho gave a post-match briefing seemingly laced
with sarcasm after Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 Premier League loss to Sunderland.
Table-topping Liverpool can go five points clear of
Chelsea with a win at Norwich City tomorrow, meaning Brendan Rodgers' team
would hold all the aces ahead of next weekend's crunch clash between the teams
at Anfield.
Samuel Eto'o gave Chelsea a 12th-minute lead at Stamford
Bridge on Saturday, but Connor Wickham hauled bottom-placed Sunderland level
shortly after.
Eto'o and Demba Ba were guilty of missing chances before
referee Mike Dean adjudged Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta to have fouled
Jozy Altidore in the area with eight minutes remaining.
Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini duly converted from the
spot and, parroting lines from a tempestuous and brief appearance on Sky Sports
after the final whistle, Mourinho went on to offer “congratulations” to Dean
and Mike Riley - the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials
Board, which is responsible for appointing referees to Premier League matches.
"I will not wait for questions," Mourinho began
after seeing his 77-match unbeaten run in home league games at Stamford Bridge
come to an end.
"I'm so sorry about it but in a quick four points I
can say everything that I want to say so we are not going to waste time because
every question you can ask me I will answer exactly the same way.
"So we stick with four quick points. The first point
is to congratulate my players. They did everything they could. They fought and
played from the first to the last second.
"I think they deserve that. Sometimes we praise the
players when we win. I think it's fair to praise my players after a defeat.
"Secondly, congratulations to Sunderland. It doesn't
matter how or why or in which way they won, but they won. They won the three
points.
"It's three fantastic points for them so I think
it's also fair to congratulate them.
"The third point, I want to congratulate again but
this time it is Mike Dean.
"His performance was unbelievable and I think when
referees they have unbelievable performances I think it is fair also that as
managers we give them this.
"He came here with one objective - the objective of
a fantastic performance and he did that.
"Fourth, I think it is also fair - congratulations
to Mike Riley because he is the referee's boss and what they are doing during
the whole season is fantastic, especially in the last couple of months,
especially in matches involving the teams that were in the title race.
"It is absolutely fantastic so I congratulate Mr
Mike Riley. Thank you."
Mourinho was sent to the stands by referee Chris Foy
after entering the field of play during Chelsea's 1-0 loss at Aston Villa last
month and was subsequently fined £8,000 by the Football Association for his
conduct.
Culled from Soccerway
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