Mourinho hits out at UEFA scrutiny
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has criticised UEFA for their “ridiculous pursuit” of fitness coach Rui Faria during last week’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Faria was asked by officials to lift his hat during the second leg match at the Olympic Stadium to prove he was not concealing a device allowing Mourinho to communicate with him.
Mourinho was serving a touchline ban and there had been speculation he had contacted the bench during the first leg at Stamford Bridge a week earlier.
According to Sky Sports News Mourinho told his new chat show on Portuguese channel SIC: “There was a ridiculous pursuit based on a false notion.
“The notes that were circulating were ones we had prepared before the game. (The assistants) were organised, prepared. They were communicating amongst themselves.”
Mourinho insisted he did not try to circumvent UEFA’s ban in any way, watching the first leg inside the stadium and the second at the team hotel.
He added: “I didn’t create any problems for UEFA. I respected their decision to ban me for two games even if I didn’t think it was at all fair.”
Chelsea could be just two wins away from wrapping up the Premiership title and Mourinho admits he would like to get them out of the way before the Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool.
He said: “I would like to win the championship as quickly as possible so I could give some players a rest as we are close to the Champions League semi-finals and they have already played 54 games in four competitions.”
