Mourinho blasts Poll for taking centre stage
For a man insistent on not blaming the referee for his side's defeat at White Hart Lane, Jose Mourinho performed a remarkably thorough assassination on Graham Poll.
The Chelsea manager questioned the eyesight, integrity and moral fibre of England's World Cup official. He ridiculed the decision to send off England captain John Terry and even insisted it was Poll's fault that his side lie three points behind Manchester United in the Premiership table.
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Mourinho said: "Two matches with Mr Poll, five points we have lost this season. I don't understand why Mr Poll wanted to be part of the show.
"The show is Chelsea and Tottenham. I don't understand why Mr Poll wanted to be such an important part of the match. He sends Terry off because he was pulling Ledley King. To show a red card when a player is attacking in the box is ridiculous. And he keeps Ghaly on the pitch when he gives a clear elbow on Michael Essien's face.
"We played fantastic football in the first half. We scored two goals. One of them was disallowed and only Mr Poll can say why because I can't.
"But we lost. Mr Poll goes home. Nobody can ask him the reason for his decisions. I never ask referees to explain their decisions because they always have an excuse. So why should I ask?
"Have you ever seen a referee come out and say: 'It was my mistake. I influenced the game.' I hate to speak about the referee because I don't want people to make a confusion between the defeat and the ref."
Poll offered an off-air explanation, not only for Terry's dismissal for a second yellow, but also for disallowing a Didier Drogba header.
Poll pointed out that Terry had committed a foul in the box as the corner was taken.
Mourinho added: "John Terry was 20 metres away and made a foul. Poll's peripheral vision is amazing.
"I have had in my mind for a long time the idea that referees should come to Press conferences after the match to justify themselves.
"But today that would be a fake Press conference because he would come with his excuse."
