Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho watched his team’s unbeaten start to the season come
to an end at Newcastle and then complained that the ball-boys and Newcastle
fans were too slow to give the ball back when it went out of play.
Mourinho’s men created more chances than their hosts at St James’ Park but
found themselves 2-0 down after Papiss Cisse came off the bench to score
twice in the second half.
Following the dismissal of Steven Taylor, the visitors pulled a goal back
through Didier Drogba, but Newcastle held on to claim all three points and
Mourinho remains without a Premier League win at St James’ Park.
And the Chelsea boss was left to rue the amount of time it took the ball to
return to the field of play in the closing stages – and the fact two balls
appeared on the pitch at one point.
"You need one ball,” said Mourinho. “Sometimes, we had no balls, and other
times we had two balls.
"I can't control that, the referee can't control that. It was difficult to
play regularly and consecutively but it is something that is out of control.
"Even in the six minutes (of stoppage-time), the same happened. We cannot be
here all day. The referee cannot give 15 minutes or give six and, after six,
give another six."
Asked if he thought the ball issue was a deliberate strategy on the part of
Newcastle, he remarked: “Do you believe in Father Christmas?"
Mourinho felt his side were very unfortunate to leave with nothing and
added: “I don't like to lose because of bad decisions from the referee, but
the referee was very good today.
“I don't like to lose and blame my players but that wasn't the case today.
We were just unlucky.
“They scored the only two times they crossed the halfway line and scored two
strange goals because of rebounds.
"But I am not going to criticise the way Newcastle played. We changed our
strategy and played direct, and we almost got the point we deserved.
"We were unlucky, but one day we will be lucky.
"The best team lost, the team which tried to win lost. We were unlucky but
that's football."
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