Jose Mourinho's position as Chelsea manager hangs by a thread after the holders were knocked out of the Capital One Cup 5-4 on penalties by Stoke City following a 1-1 draw.
After
nine successful penalties, Eden Hazard saw his effort brilliantly saved
by Jack Butland to ensure another night of misery for the Portuguese
coach.
But
Mourinho, who saw striker Diego Costa sent to hospital for tests on a
rib injury, insisted he does not need further reassurance over his
future from owner Roman Abramovich.
Jose Mourinho could be waving goodbye to Chelsea
following another frustrating evening for the club
It was another disappointing night for Mourinho as
Chelsea were dumped out on penalties by Stoke City
Mourinho has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
he does not need further reassurance over his future
'I
don't need more,' said Mourinho. 'My general situation is fantastic. I
have a day off tomorrow, a fantastic family, I can sleep well every
night. I'm going to enjoy my day. And Thursday, one more day like I have
in the last 15 years of my life.'
However,
he knows he will come under intense pressure if Chelsea lose for a
sixth time in 11 Premier League games at home to Liverpool on Saturday,
even though Abramovich backed his manager earlier this month.
Mourinho
added: 'It's a bit strange because when a few months ago I won so many
matches and was champion of England, people were saying there were some
things more important than the result. Now results are everything. It is
a contradiction.'
Loic Remy, a substitute for Costa, snatched an added-time equaliser after Jonathan Walters had fired Stoke ahead.
The
home side then had Phil Bardsley sent off before extra time but held on
and Butland's brilliant save from Hazard decided the shootout.
Mourinho claimed that Chelsea's battling performance proved the players are still behind him.
'Honest,
you think the players are not with me and didn't give everything to win
the game? That is really sad, not for me but sad for the players. That
is a lack of respect to the players, not to me.
Jack Butland made the all-important save against
Eden Hazard as Stoke beat Chelsea on penalties
Hazard missed the only penalty of the shootout as
Chelsea were knocked out of the Capital One Cup
Butland runs away to celebrate with his team-mates as
Hazard looks dejected after his penalty was saved
Stoke celebrate after dumping Chelsea out of the Capital
One Cup in another painful night for Mourinho
'They
tried everything. I feel sad for them, not for myself. How can Hazard
or Oscar or Mikel or John Terry — I could say everyone — how can they go
home with lack of confidence?
'Lack
of confidence, why? They played well. There was a lot of everything. A
lot of attacking quality, a lot of attacking football, emotional
control, everything was good apart from the penalty shootout.
'I
think in the first half it should be 3-0 or 4-0. Playing so well and
creating so many opportunities and so much in control, it is really
frustrating to go in 0-0.
'It is even more difficult to concede a goal with the first shot they had in the second half, then to chase a game.
'We try, we try, we try, and when we score the goal it is more than deserved.'
Defeat,
however, maintained the manager's awful record in shootouts. He has
lost five out of five in two spells with Chelsea, and six out of seven
in his managerial career, but refused to blame Hazard.
Mourinho applauds the travelling Chelsea fans at the
Britannia Stadium who supported their manager
Diego Costa was taken to hospital with a rib injury which
the Chelsea striker sustained during their defeat
Costa came off clutching his side in the 33rd minute of
the fourth-round tie between Stoke and Chelsea
Mourinho
added: 'The ones I remember are a semi-final with Chelsea with Arjen
Robben (missing) — a fantastic penalty taker — then with Real Madrid in a
(Champions League) semi it was Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, and now it
is our best penalty taker.
'But
the last thing I do is to blame. If I have to blame someone it is the
ones who tell the manager, "I don't want to take it" and run away.'
The
Chelsea boss now has to answer to an FA charge of improper conduct by
6pm on Thursday relating to his behaviour at West Ham last Saturday when
he was sent to the stands at half-time for verbally abusing referee Jon
Moss.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes was delighted with Stoke's show of character after Bardsley's red card.
'There
are a lot of emotions,' he said. 'We made a mistake from a corner and
allowed them back. Then after losing Phil we showed great determination
and got to penalties. Great performance.'
Stoke manager Mark Hughes (right) praised his side
after they held on with 10 men to knock out Chelsea
Mourinho exchanges a look with Hughes as they teams
end their match 1-1 before Chelsea lose on penalties
STOKE CITY 1-1 CHELSEA (AET, 5-4 ON PENALTIES)
It
remains to be seen if a game that was settled when the penalty shootout
reached the sudden-death stage proves to be terminal for Jose Mourinho.
But
this amounted to another crushing defeat for Chelsea’s beleaguered
manager. One made all the more painful by his side’s failure to take
advantage of an extra man for 30 extra time minutes as well as the sight
of Eden Hazard, already a source of some frustration this season,
executing the one spot-kick Jack Butland was able to save for Stoke.
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