• World Cup

Jose: It's not David Luiz's fault

ESPN staff
July 9, 2014
Brazil fall short of objective

Jose Mourinho says it is unfair to blame David Luiz for Brazil's 7-1 World Cup semi-final humiliation at the hands of Germany on Tuesday.

Luiz stood in as captain on the night in the absence of suspended central-defensive partner Thiago Silva and put in a dire performance with Brazil 5-0 down after 29 minutes.

"I don't think it's fair to separate a player from the team, because the team was really bad," Mourinho told Yahoo. "David made mistakes? Yes he did. But, Dante made mistakes, Marcelo made mistakes, Fernandinho made mistakes. The team as a team made mistakes. So I don't think it's fair.

"I think everyone in my situation, everyone that is a player, everyone that is a coach, everyone that is not involved in the World Cup, but could be in that position."

It is fair to say Mourinho had his own doubts about Luiz, the Chelsea manager having sold him to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of £50 million.

Mourinho also said he feels sorry for Brazil, who are coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari - the second of seven managers appointed in turn by Chelsea after Mourinho's first stint at the club was ended in 2007.

Scolari lasted just 36 matches before Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich replaced him with Guus Hiddink in February 2009.

"I think all of us are feeling really sorry for them because it is a historical moment," said Mourinho. "A moment that we will remember forever the same way that we all know that once many, many, many years ago, once Brazil lost a World Cup final against Uruguay in America and the same way my son who is 14 years old son knows that.

"In 50 years' time our kids will know that Brazil lost at home against Germany, 1-7. From my point of view, from the professional point of view, it's heart-breaking and I'm really sorry for them."

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