Jose Mourinho believes there is a 'campaign' against Chelsea
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was not holding back in his post-match conference after his side’s draw against Southampton. He claimed that a "campaign" is being waged against his team after his side were denied a penalty when Cesc Fabregas went down in the 55th minute.
Cesc Fabregas was convinced he should have had a penalty after he Matt Targett's leg tripped him, but the Chelsea midfielder was booked for simulation by referee Anthony Taylor.
“This is against Chelsea”
Commenting on the incident, Mourinho said, "I think this is a result of something that looks like a campaign."
Mourinho brushed up old memories of his side being denied penalties. He said, "In other countries this is front-page news because it's an absolute scandal.
"In the first match (vs Burnley), Diego was booked when it should have been a penalty and a red card for their player. A few months later, we lose two points in a match when the penalty is there and Fabregas gets a yellow card. We have had bad yellow cards.
"After the game against West Ham, in a game that finished 2-0 and could have been four or five, Enner Valencia made a bad dive and all I hear at the end is an incident with Branislav Ivanovic. What is this?
"I do not make campaigns and this is not against me – this is against Chelsea. Against Chelsea, yes. In the last couple of weeks, the two most important things in my matches in my opinion: Filipe Luis and Eden Hazard could be now in hospital with broken legs. And people speak about Gary Cahill (diving) against Hull City.”
Chelsea have had the most yellow cards for simulation so far this season, receiving four with Manchester City and Sunderland both having two.
Mourinho continued, "Today we have a crucial decision against two good teams in a very tight match where there is not many chances and the referee makes a wrong decision again.
"There are incidents in matches when we can have a different opinion, but there are others when everyone has the same opinion. I don't need to speak about this because everyone knows. The referee made a mistake, a big mistake. He assumed that decision.
"He is a very good referee, he is a good guy. He is young. He has years and years of football ahead of him and this was a big mistake, but life goes on. Why don't people speak about this?”
The Manchester clubs got favourable decisions
He also said that other teams vying for the Premier League title are getting decisions in their favour.
He said, "You also forget other things – Man City vs. Crystal Palace, goal is not offside and you don't speak a lot about it. Manchester United vs. Newcastle, there should be a penalty and a red card for Mata, but you don't speak about it.
"I don't know, I don't care. Chelsea is playing very well since the beginning of the season. That is the only thing I concentrate on. We are top of the league because we deserve it and it is a consequence of what we did. I am so happy with my players."
Mourinho rued the fact that FA rules prohibit referees rescinding yellow cards after reviewing TV evidence.
"In football, we should always try to change the bad things and the double punishment is something unbelievable," he said. "You have a penalty and you probably win the game. Instead, you don't get the penalty and you get the yellow card.
"It should be easy. Anthony goes to a screen, he sees he made a mistake. He's a good guy and an honest guy. He says, 'I made a mistake and let's clean the yellow card for Fabregas.' It's a simple process.
"He should look at the TV and say, 'Sorry, the two points I cannot give you, but I can clean the Fabregas yellow card.' Double punishment, double mistake."
Make your own decision on the Fabregas penalty claim by having a look at the incident: