CHELSEA BOSS JOSE Mourinho says that the frantic push to eradicate diving from the English game could hurt Premier League teams in European competitions.
During a 2-0 FA Cup win over Derby County today, Ramires became the second Chelsea player in as many games to be cautioned for simulation after referee Andre Marriner waved the yellow card.
Fellow Brazilian Oscar received the same punishment from Martin Atkinson against Southampton in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, and while Mourinho backs calls to stop diving in the English game he believes there could be repercussions in European competition.
“I don’t know,” Mourinho said when asked if he felt some managers did encourage diving.
“We do the opposite, but I am worried about the European competitions.
“I know English teams will be punished in European competitions because we are all fighting against it, (but) in the Champions League and Europa League we will get referees from other countries, players without the education that we are trying to do, and in the Champions League and Europa League something against English teams will happen for sure.
“The referees are attacking it (diving); the managers supporting the referees; we are doing well; let’s see if the others (countries) do the same as us.”
The 50-year-old insists his players are not divers, but refused lavished praise upon the referees who booked Ramires and Oscar this week.
“I maintain it (Chelsea players do not dive), they (the incidents involving Ramires and Oscar) are isolated episodes.”
“This time I didn’t watch on TV but (referee Andre) Marriner was so close, so if he made that decision it is because he is right.
“The last time (on) Oscar just was completely correct; this time I didn’t speak yet with Ramires but if the referee was there then perfect.
“The reason (the two players were booked) was the referees were very good. In other clubs there are divers and they are not booked; we had two of the best referees in the country and in Europe.”
Has Mourinho got a point or is he just deflecting blame away from his players. What do you think?
Some lad to talk in fairness after Oscar the other day.Lets not even mention Drogba.What a hypocrite
Diving needs to be stamped out of football it is pushing people away and a corrupt FIFA are doing little or nothing about it.
Drogba, Robben, Oscar, Ramirez, Ronaldo, Di Maria, Pepe etc etc is Jose having a laugh
Hes protecting his divers err players, thats all…
Cheats
I think diving and conning the ref to win for your team is fair game. Cheating is part of the game. If you do not cheat you are a mug. Everyone is doing. Stop crying and cheat yourself. If a ball hits an opponent and goes out for a goal or throw and you put your hand up to say it is yours. Is that not also cheating?
Yes that’s also cheating and it’s all wrong.
You must be a Chelsea supporter. Mourinho must be the biggest hypocrite in English football. Duffer couldn’t keep his feet at all after a spell at Chelsea- remember that ? Every time he stepped onto the pitch as a Chelsea player he got weak at the knees. And he wasn’t even a natural diver, unlike Drogba etc
Far fom a Chelsea fan. Roddy Collins’ red and white army!!
Did Mourinho join some football hippy camp or something….talkin about the culture of the English game, his responsibility to protect it. Now this today and his comments on Eusebio saying that he protected the”principles and feelings of football”