Chelsea give José Mourinho permission to rest key names at Liverpool

[Ron Obvious]

Jose is throwing his toys out of the pram again because he's doing this, at least in part, because the FA wouldn't move the Sunday fixture against Liverpool in light of the upcoming semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid. And why should they? It's on Wednesday, not Tuesday.

It's a shame, especially with the title race more interesting than it's been in a years, but what can the FA do about it? A club is supposed to always field their strongest side, but who can objectively determine what that lineup is except the manager?

So, is Mourinho handing Liverpool the title?

The Chelsea hierarchy have given José Mourinho the green light to field a team at Liverpool on Sunday that reflects the club's priority as being the Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid three days later. Yet the go-ahead may have only briefly brightened the manager's mood after he was one of three members of staff charged by the Football Association over events during the damaging home defeat to Sunderland.

(snip)

Mourinho, who is still in the process of appealing against an £8,000 fine after being sent to the stands for the second time this season for re-entering the playing surface at Aston Villa last month, had offered a sarcastic appraisal of the performances of the referee, Mike Dean, and the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, Mike Riley, after the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland that has left his team outsiders in the title race. His claim that the former had put in an "unbelievable" performance has prompted a charge of improper conduct, with the FA arguing he had questioned the integrity of both figures.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/23/chelsea-jose-mourinho-liverpool-atletico-madrid

[truebrit71]

1. Screw the delicate little flowers at the FA...

...maybe if they didn't employ fucking blind referees in the first place this wouldn't have been an issue...Football REALLY needs to enter the 20th century as far as technology is concerned. (Yes I know we are now in the 21st century...I'm giving them a little extra time to catch up)... When you have this much money on the line, and there is so much at stake (in the case of the atrocious penalty call this past weekend perhaps an entire season could come down to one blown call) the FA should really consider availing itself of the best way to use that technology, rather than getting their knickers in a bunch because they got called out as the bunch of ass-carrots that they are...

[BlueCollar]

2. Mourinho is a specialist in headgames

I doubt BR and the lads are buying into it.

They are playing every game as if it is a cup final. Who cares what Chelsea does?

If they field a "weakened" side and they lose it will be because Liverpool played better.

As a former player and coach, I can say that my experience was usually the weaker side played up and the stronger side played to the level of the competition. BR has shown that he understands this very well and Gerard has been influential in making the difference.

I anticipate that Coutinho, Flanagan and Sterling will surprise with even stronger displays and Suarez and Gerard will be instrumental.

The score should reflect a home win but Mourinho is a tricky one....

[Ron Obvious]

3. You might well be right.

I'm setting my alarm for tomorrow morning (6 AM) to watch this one.

[BlueCollar]

4. Mourinho set that up perfectly

Time wasting, stalling tactics and parking the bus.

One mistake and the game changed.

I feel bad for SG but it looks like this goes to the wire now...

I love football!!!

[Ron Obvious]

5. Love or hate him...

but that was a masterclass in defending. Chelsea defended brilliantly against a very good Liverpool side who didn't play badly today. The gamesmanship was a bit irritating but I've seen far worse.

The title is now City's to lose with a minimum goal difference advantage of 9 if they win their game in hand, and Liverpool won't be making that difference up. The only realistic hope for Liverpool is Everton taking points off City.

That must be quite the dilemma for Everton fans: cheer on your team to hand Liverpool the title or hope your side, who'll likely have nothing left to play for anyway, will lose!

[Rambis]

6. Agree- Chelski did the business ugly as it was but I still want to strangle Jose with his Gilet (nm)