Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Mourinho sympathises with referee for Barca game.
By Clare Lovell .
LONDON, (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sympathised with referee Terje Hauge before the highly charged Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday because of a culture of diving in Spanish football.
"I think it's a hard job for the referee," the Portuguese coach said at a news conference on Tuesday as Chelsea prepare to face Barca in the first knockout round at Stamford Bridge.
"But I cannot complain because I also come from a culture where football is not always clean on the pitch.
"If you go to Spain, Portugal, Italy or South America you sometimes see players diving."
Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard, speaking after his Chelsea counterpart, said: "I'm not in favour of diving players getting advantage out of something that didn't happen.
"If something happens during the game we'll have the referee to decide."
Mourinho, whose own Dutch winger Arjen Robben hit the headlines recently for a theatrical tumble when Liverpool's Jose Reina pushed him, said he had told his players to keep their eyes open and be on the look out for dirty tactics.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off in last year's first leg game after a challenge on the Barcelona goalkeeper, a decision Mourinho's bench considered harsh.
The west London side are also missing midfielder Michael Essien for both legs this time after the Ghanaian was suspended on video evidence following a tackle on Didi Hamann during a group game against Liverpool last December.
Robben and Chelsea's key English duo of captain John Terry and vice captain Frank Lampard would all miss the return in Barcelona in two weeks if they get a yellow card on Wednesday.
Mourinho has frequently praised the English game as clean and fair compared with football elsewhere.
CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY
Norway's Hauge will be under particular pressure given the controversial history of the tie.
Last season UEFA fined Mourinho for bringing the game into disrepute after the Portuguese accused Swedish referee Anders Frisk of talking to Rijkaard at halftime at the Nou Camp.
Frisk retired shortly after the tie, which Chelsea won 5-4, saying he had received death threats from Chelsea fans.
On Tuesday Mourinho was in muted form, carefully avoiding criticising Rijkaard or his team. Rijkaard, too, was in diplomatic mood. "Please stop about the tricks and psychological warfare," he said. "Chelsea are a great club. I have no hard feelings."
Rijkaard sought to play down the recent outcry over the bald and muddy Stamford Bridge pitch, though his captain Carles Puyol was more outspoken.
Asked if he thought the Chelsea had deliberately let the pitch deteriorate to frustrate Barcelona's passing game, Puyol said: "It's possible. I don't think you can discount it. You would have to ask them."
Rijkaard, though, said Chelsea were doing all they could to prepare the pitch.
"That the pitch is in a bad condition is bad for both. They are suffering from it too.
"It is true that we have a team that prefers to play on a good pitch but you cannot say Chelsea have no players of technical quality and skills who would prefer to play on a better pitch . We accept it," the former Netherlands defender said.
Mourinho said that while the surface looked ugly, bare and bumpy it, in fact, played truly.
"The ball is moving well on it, there is no deviation when the ball bounces. It's horrible to look at but it plays well," said Mourinho.
He added that France defender William Gallas would not be fit to play as he was still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Terry is likely to partner Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence with Carvalho's compatriot Paulo Ferreira and Spaniard Asier Del Horno deployed as wing backs.
LONDON, (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has sympathised with referee Terje Hauge before the highly charged Champions League match against Barcelona on Wednesday because of a culture of diving in Spanish football.
"I think it's a hard job for the referee," the Portuguese coach said at a news conference on Tuesday as Chelsea prepare to face Barca in the first knockout round at Stamford Bridge.
"But I cannot complain because I also come from a culture where football is not always clean on the pitch.
"If you go to Spain, Portugal, Italy or South America you sometimes see players diving."
Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard, speaking after his Chelsea counterpart, said: "I'm not in favour of diving players getting advantage out of something that didn't happen.
"If something happens during the game we'll have the referee to decide."
Mourinho, whose own Dutch winger Arjen Robben hit the headlines recently for a theatrical tumble when Liverpool's Jose Reina pushed him, said he had told his players to keep their eyes open and be on the look out for dirty tactics.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off in last year's first leg game after a challenge on the Barcelona goalkeeper, a decision Mourinho's bench considered harsh.
The west London side are also missing midfielder Michael Essien for both legs this time after the Ghanaian was suspended on video evidence following a tackle on Didi Hamann during a group game against Liverpool last December.
Robben and Chelsea's key English duo of captain John Terry and vice captain Frank Lampard would all miss the return in Barcelona in two weeks if they get a yellow card on Wednesday.
Mourinho has frequently praised the English game as clean and fair compared with football elsewhere.
CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY
Norway's Hauge will be under particular pressure given the controversial history of the tie.
Last season UEFA fined Mourinho for bringing the game into disrepute after the Portuguese accused Swedish referee Anders Frisk of talking to Rijkaard at halftime at the Nou Camp.
Frisk retired shortly after the tie, which Chelsea won 5-4, saying he had received death threats from Chelsea fans.
On Tuesday Mourinho was in muted form, carefully avoiding criticising Rijkaard or his team. Rijkaard, too, was in diplomatic mood. "Please stop about the tricks and psychological warfare," he said. "Chelsea are a great club. I have no hard feelings."
Rijkaard sought to play down the recent outcry over the bald and muddy Stamford Bridge pitch, though his captain Carles Puyol was more outspoken.
Asked if he thought the Chelsea had deliberately let the pitch deteriorate to frustrate Barcelona's passing game, Puyol said: "It's possible. I don't think you can discount it. You would have to ask them."
Rijkaard, though, said Chelsea were doing all they could to prepare the pitch.
"That the pitch is in a bad condition is bad for both. They are suffering from it too.
"It is true that we have a team that prefers to play on a good pitch but you cannot say Chelsea have no players of technical quality and skills who would prefer to play on a better pitch . We accept it," the former Netherlands defender said.
Mourinho said that while the surface looked ugly, bare and bumpy it, in fact, played truly.
"The ball is moving well on it, there is no deviation when the ball bounces. It's horrible to look at but it plays well," said Mourinho.
He added that France defender William Gallas would not be fit to play as he was still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Terry is likely to partner Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence with Carvalho's compatriot Paulo Ferreira and Spaniard Asier Del Horno deployed as wing backs.
