JOSE MOURINHO SAYS that John Terry was not carrying an injury when he hauled off the captain at half-time of Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, insisting that it was a tactical switch.
The veteran centre-back was replaced by Kurt Zouma with the Blues a goal down and the champions went on to concede twice more as Chelsea made their worst start to a Premier League season in 17 years.
Advertisement
“John Terry [had no injury]. It was just a decision. I know that Kurt Zouma is the fastest defender Chelsea have,” the Portuguese told Sky Sports.
“He is a player of my total trust. With me he was never substituted but, with other managers, he was not even playing. Some people thought his career was over. If anyone has the free mind to make this decision, I am the one because I’m the one who gave him the chance to be what he is: a fantastic player and captain.
“I left him out because, tactically, I had to make a change. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong but I think I was right. We controlled the counterattack completely afterwards. My decision was proven right.
“John is Chelsea captain, for sure, and a player with my entire confidence, for sure.”
Mourinho was also of the opinion that Chelsea had been the better side in the second off at the Etihad Stadium and felt that both Fernandinho and Yaya Toure should have been sent off.
“The best team in the first half won the game,” he remarked, “[but] the best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure. We had a difficult first half, we didn’t create a lot and our goalkeeper made a few important saves.
“Second half, everything was different. If the 1-0 was a doubtful result at minute 70, 3-0 is completely fake. At 1-0 Chelsea were the best team for the whole second half.
“They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble.”
The beginning of the end? Mourinho says Terry's half-time withdrawal was purely tactical
JOSE MOURINHO SAYS that John Terry was not carrying an injury when he hauled off the captain at half-time of Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, insisting that it was a tactical switch.
The veteran centre-back was replaced by Kurt Zouma with the Blues a goal down and the champions went on to concede twice more as Chelsea made their worst start to a Premier League season in 17 years.
“John Terry [had no injury]. It was just a decision. I know that Kurt Zouma is the fastest defender Chelsea have,” the Portuguese told Sky Sports.
“He is a player of my total trust. With me he was never substituted but, with other managers, he was not even playing. Some people thought his career was over. If anyone has the free mind to make this decision, I am the one because I’m the one who gave him the chance to be what he is: a fantastic player and captain.
“I left him out because, tactically, I had to make a change. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong but I think I was right. We controlled the counterattack completely afterwards. My decision was proven right.
Mourinho was also of the opinion that Chelsea had been the better side in the second off at the Etihad Stadium and felt that both Fernandinho and Yaya Toure should have been sent off.
“The best team in the first half won the game,” he remarked, “[but] the best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure. We had a difficult first half, we didn’t create a lot and our goalkeeper made a few important saves.
“Second half, everything was different. If the 1-0 was a doubtful result at minute 70, 3-0 is completely fake. At 1-0 Chelsea were the best team for the whole second half.
“They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble.”
Mourinho’s week goes from bad to worse as Chelsea torn apart by rampant Man City
Fifth time lucky for Aguero as Man City draw first blood
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Benched Barclays Premier League John Terry Jose Mourinho Premier League Chelsea Manchester City