
Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho accused referee Phil Dowd of being “too slow” and
missing key decisions that cost his side in the 5-3 derby defeat to
Tottenham.
Mourinho, who spoke of a "campaign” against his team after being held to a
draw at Southampton on Sunday, took specific issue with a potential handball
on Jan Vertonghen in the first half, with his team 1-0 to the good.
The Blues have dropped 10 points in their last eight games and taken one
point from six over the last two, and their lead at the Premier League
summit has now vanished.
Mourinho said: “I'm more shocked at other things than to concede five goals.
I am shocked that, in three days, we’ve had two incredible decisions that
punished us in a very hard way.
“Eden Hazard told me there was not a foul or a red card when he was fouled
in the second half but Mr Dowd is too slow to go with that ball – he was 40
yards away.
“He made the right decision, so that’s good, but he couldn't make the
decision that was 10 metres away in the first half – a crucial moment of the
game.
“With the result 1-0, one clear action could make it 2-0. Normally at 2-0,
the result and the history of the game would be different.
“Managers and players, we win and lose but Mr Dowd didn't lose. This is the
type of decision that is very difficult to accept.”
Chelsea were undone by arguably Tottenham’s best performance of the season
and another stellar show from striker Harry Kane, who scored twice to take
his tally in all competitions to 17 for the season.
But Mourinho accused Spurs of being the next in a long line of teams kicking
Hazard unfairly and has suggested the player may one day leave England if it
continues.
“People in love with football in this country must be in love with Eden
Hazard,” Mourinho said.
“But he's being punished by opponents, match-after-match, and not being
protected by referees. Maybe one day we won't have Eden Hazard.
“It's one, two, three, four, five, 10 aggressive fouls against him. They
kick and kick and kick, and the kid resists. He's a very honest guy in the
way he plays, but that's another problem.”