League Cup: Mourinho hits out at Costa 'stamp' claims

Chelsea manager feels side has been victimised after 1-0 win over Liverpool

CHELSEA: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho once again alleged that his team was the victim of a ‘campaign’ after they edged Liverpool 1-0 in an ill-tempered League Cup semi-final second leg.

An extra-time Branislav Ivanovic header earned Chelsea a 2-1 aggregate win after a high-octane encounter at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, but it was home striker Diego Costa who was the focus of attention after the game.

The Brazil-born Spain international twice appeared to tread on opposing players – Emre Can in the first half, Martin Skrtel in the second – and could now face retrospective action from the Football Association (FA).

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said the incidents were ‘poor’, but Mourinho claimed the outcry had been manufactured by a television pundit who he refused to identify.

"I don't know what you understand by 'stamp'," said Mourinho, who has been fined £25,000 by the FA after claiming Chelsea had been targeted by a ‘campaign’ over accusations of diving.

"I think maybe you [the media] are already influenced by – I'm going to use the word that put me in trouble – but I think this time I cannot be punished to say that there is a campaign on the television with a certain pundit that is saying [alleging] Costa crimes.

"This guy must be nuts, the guy that is saying that."

Mourinho appeared to be referring to either former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp or ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who analysed the game for Sky Sports, but he refused to reveal who he was talking about.

Rodgers had said, "On Emre Can, that was poor, I felt. He can easily hurdle over the young player there and he directs his studs right onto his ankle, which would have been nasty.

"And then the one on Martin Skrtel. There's no need to do it. That's the sad thing of it. He's a top-class player and he's clever enough the officials don't see it. It was poor, really, by him."

Mourinho worked alongside Rodgers during his first stint as Chelsea manager and he delivered a sharp response to his former protege's remarks.

"He worked in Chelsea in my time for a few years, but we are very different people," said the Portuguese.

"I don't know if he learnt something with me or not. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.”

 
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