Wednesday 11 February 2015 09:24, UK
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he thinks one of his players would have been banned if they had used his elbow in the way another Premier League player did at the weekend.
Chelsea forward Diego Costa was handed a three-match suspension last month by the Football Association after they found him guilty of violent conduct for stamping on Emre Can during a match against Liverpool.
On the same day Mourinho, who refused to name the player involved at the weekend, was fined £25,000 for suggesting there was a “campaign” being conducted against Chelsea.
He subsequently opted out of media duties around the next match against title rivals Manchester City, before reappearing last Friday.
I need a little bit more time to understand why some people are punished, others aren't. I need a little bit of time to process that. The same people that suspended my player didn't want to suspend a player this weekend.
And he faced the media again on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Everton, but remains frustrated by the FA’s disciplinary policies.
"I was in a good mood the other day," Mourinho said. "I needed a little bit more time to forget why my player (Costa) was suspended.
"I need a little bit more time to understand why some people are punished, others aren't. I need a little bit of time to process that.
"The same people that suspended my player didn't want to suspend a player this weekend. This weekend he could."
Asked who he was referring to, Mourinho just gestured with his elbow. "I know that if it was one of mine, I know. Last season the same thing happened when Ramires was suspended," he said.
"It was exactly the same thing. One week later a Manchester City player kicked a player on the floor at Norwich and nothing happened."
That was a reference to a challenge by City midfielder Yaya Toure on Ricky van Wolswinkel.
Mourinho also hinted that he thinks he would have faced sanctions if he had grabbed a player in the manner Leicester boss Nigel Pearson did on Saturday.
"No comments,” said the Chelsea boss. “You know."
Cesc Fabregas will be back for Chelsea when Everton visit on Wednesday but Costa will be serving the final game of his ban.
Asked if Fabregas was fit to return, Mourinho said: “Yes. The team played without him and we coped with the situation but, obviously, to have him back is important for us.
“Injured, we have only Mikel, with a problem in his knee. He is the only one who is not in condition to play tomorrow.
“We don’t have the player who is suspended so we have to stick with Didier (Drogba) and (Loic) Remy. We need the suspended player but we coped without him.”
