Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho rages at Roberto Martinez over order of duties

Portuguese wanted to talk to media before counterpart after defeat at Everton
Martinez: when he beat us 6-3 last season he was such a nice man. I prefer that

Posted Monday, September 14, 2015 by theguardian.com

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, right, walked off shouting an expletive following a post-match confrontation with Everton's Roberto Martinez.

Jose Mourinho launched a furious outburst at Roberto Martinez as his frustration at Chelsea’s woeful start to the season erupted at Everton.

Mourinho was incensed that Martinez conducted the first post-match press conference in the media room at Goodison when, as the away manager, he had expected to begin the inquest into Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat before joining his players on the waiting team coach.

The Everton manager was hosting a separate, customary briefing with national newspaper journalists on a concourse outside the media room, and away from the television cameras, when Mourinho approached en route to his press conference. He interrupted Martinez’s discussion to say: "Roberto, Roberto, next time tell me to go before you because we have to travel."

His opposite number replied: "I don’t control that, José. I don’t control that." To which an exasperated Mourinho shouted: "Fucking hell," before walking off.

With the Chelsea manager gone, Martinez, cup of coffee in hand, said: "When he beat us 6-3 last season he was such a nice man. I prefer him like that."

Asked whether he would invite Mourinho for a traditional post-match drink, the Everton manager replied: "Of course – and I am sure he’s going to come round."

Mourinho later apologised to the national newspaper journalists for not conducting a separate post-match briefing, politely explaining he had to go because Chelsea’s departure from Goodison had been delayed by the confusion over media schedules.

The Chelsea manager did not conduct a lengthy inquest into the champions’ third defeat in five games with his players either. Within minutes of the final whistle sounding on Saturday, Mourinho was on his phone in a corridor outside the away changing room rather than addressing the Chelsea squad.

Branislav Ivanovic admitted Chelsea have more pressing concerns than an 11-point deficit on the league leaders, Manchester City, with their lack of concentration and form requiring immediate attention.

"We cannot think about catching other teams we just have to win game by game," said the Serbia international. "We must not think about anything else other than the next game. When you are not winning games it is difficult. All you can do is work hard, get back on the winning way. One big win and things will change for Chelsea."

The struggling defender added: "It is very difficult, especially now, when you see that we are not in our top form and I hope we will change it soon.

"It is already late for us. The game was hard but also the game changed. We tried and dominated most of the game but a couple of situations we lost concentration and we conceded goals. We are getting punished for all our mistakes."