Chelsea FC vs Galatasaray preview - Mou: We close mouth and keep going

Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2014 by PA

Angry Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continues to seethe about events at Aston Villa on Saturday on the eve of the crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray.

Along with Willian and Ramires, Mourinho was sent off by referee Chris Foy during a feisty encounter which Chelsea lost 1-0 in a blow to their Barclays Premier League title chances.

Mourinho called for the Premier League to consider not appointing Foy for Chelsea matches in future.

Asked if he had spoken to Ramires about the challenge on Karim El Ahmadi, the Portuguese said: "Don't you have other things to ask about that game more important than Ramires' tackle on minute 92?

"You think that in that game the most important thing was Ramires' tackle in minute 92?

"I don't want to answer, because I feel that what happened on minute 92 was a consequence of the other 92 minutes that we played before that.

"I'm sorry if I'm wrong or if you don't agree with me, but I think if you want to ask you should ask about what made that tackle happen.

"But that's just my opinion."

Mourinho's dismissal was his second of the season.

He was fined B#8,000 by the Football Association following his touchline dismissal against Cardiff in October.

He declined to elaborate on the events in the previous 92 minutes of action at Villa Park.

Asked specifically what he was referring to, he said: "Everything that happened. I bring the game into disrepute. I cannot."

Earlier, Mourinho was asked if he expects a reaction from his players following the loss. The Portuguese answered a different question.

"We cannot have a reaction to Villa Park, because if we have reaction we bring the game into disrepute," he said.

"We just close our mouth and we keep going."

Ramires and Willian are free to play in European competition, but left-back Ashley Cole (knee) missed training on Monday morning and is expected to miss out.

David Luiz was present after missing recent fixtures with a groin injury and could come into central midfield in place of Nemanja Matic, who is unavailable after playing for Benfica earlier in the tournament. Mohammed Salah is also ineligible, having played for Basle.

Mourinho was happy to discuss more freely the Galatasaray game, which sees Didier Drogba return to Stamford Bridge, where the striker spent eight years as a Blue, scoring 157 goals in 341 appearances including the decisive penalty in the 2012 European Cup win.

The match also sees Mourinho's predecessor as Inter Milan boss return to English football.

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini had two hours earlier spoken of his willingness to go to dinner with Mourinho if his Gala side won Tuesday's match.

Asked whether he would be happy to have a post-match meal with Mancini, Mourinho said: "No, because I have no interest. After the match I don't do things because I win or because I lose.

"After matches what I have in my mind to do, I do. It doesn't matter if I win or if I lose.

"And in my plans after the game (on Tuesday), I don't have a meal with somebody that has the same job as I have and this is the only thing we have in common. The fact we both are football managers. Nothing else."