Mourinho: Now we know retaliation is allowed

Mark Holmes
Jose Mourinho: Chelsea manager pleased with win over Walsall

Jose Mourinho: Chelsea manager pleased with win over Walsall

Jose Mourinho believes the FA’s decision to overturn Gabriel’s red card against Chelsea sends out a message that retaliation is allowed.

Diego Costa has been handed a three-match suspension violent conduct following his clash with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny on Saturday, but Arsenal defender Gabriel won an appeal against his red card for kicking out at the Blues striker.

Chelsea have stated they are “extremely disappointed” but, speaking after Tuesday’s 4-1 Capital One Cup win over Walsall, a clearly unhappy Mourinho refused to say too much.

He said: “If I bring examples, if I go deep and if I bring feelings into the discussion a big suspension will be waiting for me and I don’t want that. The team doesn’t need that, the team lost an important player for three matches and I don’t think they need to lose their manager.

“Every time you lose a player it’s not good for the team. It’s easier to accept an injury but this kind of situation goes much more deeper in feelings and the team is hurt.

“But now we know something, that retaliation is allowed now. No problem, you can do it.”

Ramires, Loic Remy, Kenedy and Pedro scored as holders Chelsea eased into the fourth round at the Banks’s Stadium.

James O’Connor made it 2-1 in first-half stoppage-time and Mourinho admitted he was worried Walsall could spark an unlikely comeback.

He added: “We were not here to throw away a competition. When you start the season with bad results like we did you cannot lose against a League One team.

“You can do that when the season is fantastic and you are top of the league – like happened last season.

“To lose a game against a League One team now would not be good for us. We don’t need that bad feeling now, we need good feelings.

“The team was strong, played well and I’m happy with the result.”

Chelsea: Celebrate Loic Remy's goal in Capital One Cup win at Walsall

Chelsea: Celebrate Loic Remy’s goal in Capital One Cup win at Walsall

 

Walsall were missing seven-goal top scorer Tom Bradshaw, sidelined with a groin problem, and came close through ex-Chelsea youngster Milan Lalkovic and the impressive Romaine Sawyers and boss Dean Smith admitted he could not risk Bradshaw.

He said: “I had to pull him out of it, I didn’t want to risk it. I risked it at Wembley (in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final) and lost him for a month and we can’t afford to do that in the position we are in the league. Hopefully he will be fit for Saturday.

“The team talk was ‘we’re not here to try not to lose, we’re here to try and win’. They make it very difficult for you and they protect their back four very well, we gave it a go and we’re disappointed with the scoreline a little bit. Maybe 4-1 flattered them a wee bit.”