• Chelsea 0-0 West Ham

West Ham 'cheated' claims Mourinho

ESPN staff
January 29, 2014
'West Ham played from the 19th Century'

Jose Mourinho hit out at Sam Allardyce after Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, accusing his West Ham counterpart of playing "football from the 19th Century".

Chelsea fell three points off the pace following Manchester City's 5-1 win at Tottenham, dropping points for just the second time at home this season. Adrian made a number of terrific saves to deny Chelsea, with Mourinho left angered by West Ham's defensive tactics.

"It's very difficult to play a football match where only one team wants to play," Mourinho said. "Very difficult. A match is about two teams playing. This match was only one team playing, and another team not. This is not Premier League. This is not the best league in the world. This is football from the 19th century.

"They were pretending injuries, cheating. I don't know if that's the right word. The goalkeeper taking time not after minute 70, but in the first minute. Ten defenders in the box, defenders not putting a foot outside the box. Very basic. Their goalkeeper saved a lot, but they had other players without gloves who saved a lot. They played with five defenders; they had more goalkeepers than defenders.

"The only thing I could use was a Black & Decker to destroy the wall. I told Sam and he was laughing. He was laughing. His objective was won, to come here and take a point. His objective was not to come here and play good football, or win, or feel part of the quality of the Premier League. His objective was to come and take a point. He takes the point. After that he's a happy man and I'm a sad guy."

When asked what he though about Mourinho's comments, however, Allardyce laughed them off. "He just can't take it. "He can't take it because we out-thought him, outwitted him. He just can't cope. He can tell me all he wants, I don't give a s***e, to be honest.

"I love to see Chelsea players moaning at the referee, trying to intimidate him and José jumping up and down in his technical area. It's great to see."

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