Monday 23 February 2015 10:37, UK
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Sky Sports that Nemanja Matic is lucky Ashley Barnes' tackle didn't end his career.
Barnes appeared to catch the midfielder just below the knee with a challenge during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Matic is a very lucky guy because it could have been the end of his career
Matic was sent off for his reaction as he pushed Barnes to the floor, but, speaking during an impromtpu appeareance on Goals on Sunday, Mourinho said: “Matic is a very lucky guy because it could have been the end of his career. I don’t know but I think so.
“I cannot find the words to describe what the player did and I can clearly understand because football is about emotions and sometimes you lose the emotions.
“Clearly Matic had a reason to lose his emotions. What could be the consequence of Matic’s push for the other player? Nothing. One second later he stands. The consequence for Matic could have been the end of his career.”
Mourinho felt the incident was worse than Phil Bardsley’s recent tackle on Eden Hazard at Stoke and reiterated his belief that decisions this season have gone against his team.
“Yesterday I was so calm in the press conference just trying to speak in an honest but controlled way, but my players are not getting the respect they deserve,” he said.
“I cannot go too far but the reality is that the incidents I am speaking about week after week are because they are week after week.
“I know football is football and in football you don’t have it always but I think it’s too much. My players don’t deserve that.
“At Southampton, the penalty transformed the game with the free-kick and the yellow card to Cesc Fabregas. The penalty against Tottenham, the handball with (Jan) Vertonghen. Against Liverpool, red cards for them.
“I know being a referee is so difficult. Sometimes I referee something in a training session and normally I say to the assistants you do it because I don’t want to do it. I know it’s difficult but there are situations that are not open to interpretation. It’s clear.”
Watch Jose Mourinho's Goals on Sunday interview again at 6.40pm on Sunday, Sky Sports 3.
