Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho declined to comment on Nemanja Matic’s suspension for
fear it would get him in ‘big trouble’.
The Serbian midfielder has seen his ban cut to two games from an initial
three and will miss Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham at
Wembley.
Matic is serving the suspension for a red card for violent conduct in the
draw with Burnley, in which he reacted angrily to a challenge by Ashley
Barnes.
Mourinho last weekend labelled Barnes' challenge "criminal" but would not
comment on Matic's Wembley absence.
"If I give you my views, it's bad for me," said Mourinho, speaking ahead of
the final.
"I can't give you my views. If I speak again about the Matic situation I
will be in big trouble."
Mourinho has spoken at several times this season about what he feels is a
"clear campaign" against his side by match officials.
On this occasion, he put the pre-match emphasis on ‘the players that like to
complicate things’.
"It's easy for me to say that I don't believe that anyone involved in this
game doesn't want to make his best," Mourinho said.
"I believe all three teams (Chelsea, Spurs and the match officials) will go
with the same ambition to do very well and hopefully even the players that
like to complicate things try to make the final a good final."
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