Oliver also denied the reigning champs penalty shout in the first half when top striker Diego Costa fell down in a heap after a challenge inside the visitors’ vital area. We shall come to my views on these incidents and Oliver’s overall performance at the Bridge later. But first is Mourinho’s dignified reaction to the perceived injustices meted out to his team.
Asked to comment on the penalty incident which also led to Courtois’ expulsion, Mou simply and very uncharacteristically retorted:”I don’t want to talk about it.You (the media) have the cameras, you have the pundits, the specialists. I don’t want to comment.”
That was very untypical of Mou who had incited conspiracy theories in the past. Dismissing Oliver as an incompetent arbiter would also be more like the Chelsea boss. Pleasantly though, none of his caustic nature came to the fore. And if Jose had any harsh words after the match, he reserved them for his medical staff.
“I was unhappy with my medical staff. They were impulsive and naive,” he told Sky Sports. “Whether you are a kit man, doctor or secretary on the bench you have to understand the game. You have to know you have one player less and to assist a player you must be sure he has a serious problem. I was sure Eden did not have a serious problem. He had a knock. He was tired.”
Well, is this a new Mourinho or is this just a façade that will soon fade away and reveal the sometimes repulsive nature of the Portuguese tactician? Time will tell, though from my close examination of the man, Mou looks likely to take lenient stance on issues so early in the season. It is at the business end that he becomes very nasty, especially when things aren’t going to plan.Watch this space.
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