Chelsea manager pays tribute to Phil Parkinson's side after stunning upset
Sunday 25 January 2015 16:25, UK
Jose Mourinho said he was ‘ashamed’ by Chelsea's ‘unacceptable’ FA Cup fourth-round defeat to League One Bradford City.
The Premier League leaders were stunned 4-2 by the League One Bantams at Stamford Bridge after appearing to be in control of the tie at 2-0 up.
Mourinho caused a stir in the week by saying it would be a disgrace if they lost to Bradford, and he reaffirmed that belief after the match.
“I repeat the word that I used yesterday in case we lost - it's a disgrace. A sporting disgrace, but it's a disgrace,” he said.
"By one side this is the beauty of football, the beauty of the FA Cup. It happens more in the FA Cup than any other country. By another side I feel ashamed and I think the players should feel exactly the same as I feel.”
It was the first time Chelsea have lost to lower-league opposition at home for 20 years and ends their hopes of winning the quadruple this season.
Mourinho, though, did pay tribute to Phil Parkinson’s side, saying: “In this moment I feel happy for them. I could find in my bad feeling with the game and with the result space to feel happy for them. I'm honest.
"I know in the history of this competition it happens to every team now and again. For me it's the first time and I think it's unacceptable to lose against a team from a lower league."
