London (AFP) - Chelsea manager
Jose Mourinho threatened to walk out of his media conference as he
bristled at questions about a melee involving Branislav Ivanovic in the
1-0 win over Everton.
Mourinho, who
also broke off a BBC interview when asked about the incident, refused to
give his view when questioned in the post-match press conference.
Defender Ivanovic appeared to head-butt Everton's James McCarthy in a scuffle before Willian's 89th-minute winner preserved Chelsea's seven-point Premier League lead.
"I am concerned with my reaction
because one more question and I leave," Mourinho said, seemingly
referencing his recent £25,000 ($38,000, 34,500 euros) FA fine for
bringing the game into dispute over the conspiracy claims.
Retrospective
action by the Football Association is now a possibility, with Everton
manager Roberto Martinez, who lost Gareth Barry to a late red card,
strongly critical of the Serbian defender.
Chelsea have already fallen foul of the video replay panel, with striker Diego Costa
missing Wednesday's game due to his three-game suspension for stamping
on Liverpool's Emre Can in last month's League Cup semi-final.
The Ivanovic incident came directly after referee Jonathan Moss had shown a second yellow card to Barry for a foul on Willian.
Martinez
was adamant the official had missed a more serious offence as players
from both sides came together angrily in the aftermath of Barry's
challenge.
"From that moment
the red card gives an unfair momentum to the home side and allows them
to score a goal. And then, if you look at the images, Ivanovic's
behaviour is wrong. That shouldn't be allowed," Martinez said.
He
added: "First of all he grabs James McCarthy around his neck in a very
forceful manner. Then he put his head against him. James McCarthy never
reacted one single bit and if you want to be fair with the laws, that's a
red card.
"It is even more hurtful because
Ivanovic was involved in the goal and there was a deflection on the way
in and it went through Darron Gibson's legs."
- 'Super' Cech -
Despite
the incident, it was a vital win for Chelsea after second-placed
Manchester City's 4-1 victory at Stoke, and kept Mourinho on course for a
third Premier League crown with the club.
"I
don't remember a team becoming champions without a couple of victories
in the last minute," he said. "In my case, for sure. Every time I won a
league title I had a couple of matches where we won in the last minute.
"This
was the first time this season. It was a very difficult match and a
difficult Everton. When I say that, it is a compliment. They defended
very well, so I am happy with the points."http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/chelseas-branislav-ivanovic-l-clashes-evertons-james-mccarthy-photo-070613273--sow.html
Mourinho's decision to drop goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and reinstate Petr Cech also paid off as the veteran pulled off two high-quality saves to deny Romelu Lukaku, the striker Everton signed from Chelsea last year.
"In
the first half he made a very good save and in the second, a super one.
This is what we need. The goalkeeper can make a difference," Mourinho
said.
Martinez agreed that Cech's saves had been crucial in what he called a "cruel" result.
"Petr Cech's reflexes, especially in the second half, was the difference in the scoreline," he said.
"You
can lose against Chelsea -- they are one of the best teams in Europe --
but to go down to a very fortunate goal really hurts."
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