José Mourinho has responded to Roy Keane’s criticism of him with a sarcastic retort in which he intimated that neither the Aston Villa assistant or the manager, Paul Lambert, are role models.
The Chelsea manager, who was described as a “disgrace” by Keane for offering his hand before the Aston Villa and Chelsea match had reached full-time, said: “I appreciate the comments. I think they are both two great examples of polite and very well-educated people, and because I’m a humble guy who tries to learn every day and with every experience, I appreciate the comments.”
Keane had said that Mourinho’s conduct was disrespectful “because the game is still going on and that “you wouldn’t do that on a Sunday morning, you would get knocked out.”
But Mourinho confirmed that he would have no qualms about doing the same again in future matches and added that he does not understand why people are so upset with him offering a handshake and heading down the tunnel before the final whistle.
Of more pressing concern to Mourinho is the fitness of some of Chelsea’s key players before Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace. Ramires, Diego Costa, Didier Drogba, André Schürrle and John Obi Mikel were all confirmed as doubts. “I still want to wait until tomorrow. But we have some problems, yes. Ramires and Drogba, Diego, Schürrle, Mikel … it’s a long, long list.”
Costa, who has scored nine goals in seven Premier League appearances, played all but eight minutes for Spain against Luxembourg.
Chelsea, whose title challenge was derailed by Palace in a 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park last March, says he knows why they lost there last season. “My lesson, in that specific game, was not a lesson. It was one on of these games I deserved to lose. When I deserve to lose, I know why I lose,” said Mourinho.
“That doesn’t give me a lesson. I accept it in a normal way. It’s easy for me to analyse this kind of match. Last season we lost there because they were better than us in every aspect of the game. Better than us.”
