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Steven Naismith Everton Attacker |
Jose Mourinho and Roberto Martinez were involved in a furious bust-up as
the under-pressure Chelsea manager’s frustrations boiled over.
The incident, which ended with Mourinho swearing at Martinez, took place on
a concourse at Goodison Park after Everton had extended Chelsea’s dreadful
start to the campaign by beating them 3-1.
Martinez had just given a routine press conference and was standing outside
Goodison’s media room, speaking to national newspapers, when a visibly irate
Mourinho stormed into view.
Mourinho had been advised by a steward to walk down the touchline and up a
set of stairs so he could give his own press conference but ignored what he was
told and made a beeline for Martinez.
At first, Martinez was oblivious to what was happening until Mourinho,
anxious to board Chelsea’s coach, abruptly interrupted. ‘Roberto, next time you
tell me (to) go before you, because we have to travel,’ Mourinho scowled.
Martinez tried to reply: ‘We don’t control that, Jose. I don’t control
that.’
But Mourinho was in no mood to listen and fired back: ‘F****** hell!’
As
Mourinho burst through the door, Martinez wryly observed: ‘When he beat
us 6-3 (last season) he was such a nice man. I prefer him like that!’
After giving a short, terse conference, Mourinho scurried off without
speaking to the daily publications and it summed up exactly how the afternoon
had gone for the Portuguese.
Before kick-off, Mourinho walked out on a television interview with BT
Sport after he had been asked about Chelsea’s failed pursuit of Everton
defender John Stones.
Interviewer Ray Stubbs was in the middle of asking: ‘Everton fans will
remind you that you couldn’t sign John Stones, do you think that adds an extra
dimension?’
But Mourinho, whose problems are mounting, walked off screen, saying:
‘Before the game, this is too long. This is too long, I’m sorry.’
Meanwhile, Tim Rolls, chair of the Chelsea Supporters Trust, says Mourinho
still has the backing of the club’s fans and hierarchy, and does not expect a
backlash against the manager.
Asked if Chelsea fans still loved Mourinho as much as ever and wanted him
to continue, Rolls said: ‘Absolutely — you can look at social media and find
one or two hot-heads, but most people know Mourinho is as good as it gets.
‘We are only five games into the season and I wouldn’t say it is a crisis.
There are just problems that need sorting, and I’m confident Mourinho will do
that.
‘I think most supporters are fully behind him.
‘It is important to maintain a sense of perspective, and I can’t see any
scenario in which anti-Mourinho chants would start from Chelsea fans at
Stamford Bridge or at away games.
‘I don’t think he is under pressure, other than that he is putting himself
under.
‘Roman Abramovich is in it for the long term. It finished quite sourly
between him and Mourinho in 2007 — I think everyone is now older and wiser and
realises Mourinho is as good as it gets.
‘In my mind it would be absolutely futile getting rid of him because I
don’t think there is anyone better who could come in. Mourinho is arguably the
best coach in Europe.’
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