The blame game
It isn’t unusual for Mourinho to slam refereeing decisions, but this time it seemed more like a defence mechanism for a truly-defeated Mourinho. Having won the title so convincingly, no one would have even considered Chelsea’ title defence would start in such a way, and in October the digs started to come thick and fast.
Chelsea conceded two penalties and two red cards in three games, leading the Blues boss criticising referees and felt Chelsea were disliked and becoming a target, both by officials and the media. With Mourinho’s character, the English, and Spanish media for that matter, have got used to the 52-year-old’s character, but there seemed to be something laying deeper than simply ‘typical Mourinho comments’. Chelsea were really struggling, and he knew it.
Perhaps he felt his duty to protect his players got the better of him, he felt he couldn’t name and shame some of the game’s most talented players. However, his final game in charge away to Leicester City, he did not hold back and lashed out. As many felt at the time, it seems clear Mourinho was using officials as the scapegoat in his post-match rants… if indeed when he decided to speak to the media that is.
