José Mourinho pledged he would sleep easily after Chelsea’s defence of the Capital One Cup was ended by Stoke City on penalties and claimed his players’ performance proved their support for him.
Chelsea’s abject start to the season means their manager’s future remains up in the air as they head into Saturday’s game with Liverpool but Mourinho cut a more composed figure despite this latest setback.
Nine penalty takers scored before Jack Butland brilliantly saved Eden Hazard’s kick after Loïc Rémy’s last-ditch equaliser had taken the fourth-round tie into extra-time following Jonathan Walters’ opener. Chelsea could not capitalise on a 30-minute spell against 10 men after Phil Bardsley was sent off in second half stoppage time.
Mourinho has until Thursday evening to decide whether to appeal against the latest FA misconduct charge, for his behaviour towards the referee, Jonathan Moss, as he was sent to the stands at half-time in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham United, but he was comfortable with the “emotional control” his players displayed during a “quality” performance at the Britannia Stadium.
“I have a day off [today] with my fantastic family,” he said. “I sleep well and then I enjoy my day. Thursday is one more day like the last 15 years of my life.”
Asked whether he required a show of support from Chelsea, Mourinho answered: “I don’t need. You think my players are not with me? You think my players are not giving everything to win the game? “I think that’s really sad; not to me but to the players. It’s a lack of respect. For me it would be a fantastic situation if the players were not for me because, if we didn’t get results, I could say it was because the players were against me.
“My players are not like that. They tried everything. Last year we won here 2-0 and we didn’t play 25% of what we play today. I think they [my players] have to be very frustrated not getting what they deserve.”
Asked whether it was difficult to pick his players up after another reverse, Mourinho replied: “It’s difficult. Of course it’s difficult. But it’s more difficult when you play very badly and you lose.
“I think they go with sadness but with a positive feeling. How can Hazard, Oscar, Willian, John [Terry] go home with a lack of confidence when they played that well?”
