Jose Mourinho: There are no divers at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insisted in his post match press conference that there are no divers at the club, despite the fact that he has now seen players booked for diving in successive matches.

Oscar was booked for a dive in the side’s last Premier League game – at Southampton – whilst Ramires was shown a yellow card for a perceived dive in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Derby, having drawn criticism earlier in the season for his part in an injury time penalty awarded to the Stamford Bridge side in their draw with West Brom.

However Mourinho believes that his side are not diving, and insisted that the English game’s crusade on diving will damaged English team’s chances in European competition.

“I maintain (there are no divers at Chelsea). Isolated episodes. The referees attacking it. The manager supporting the referees. I think we are doing well. Let’s see if the others do the same as us.”

However, paradoxly, he had no complaints with the yellow cards shown to Oscar and Ramires in recent weeks.

“Marriner was so close so if he made that decision it’s because he’s right,” continued Mourinho.

“The last time Oscar’s justification was completely correct and I understand completely what happened.

“I was happy with the card because the referee, in this case (Martin) Atkinson, did well.”

“This time I didn’t speak yet with Ramires, but if the referee was there and he decide well, perfect. Let’s do every game, every stadium, every player, let’s do that.”

“In other clubs there are really (sic) divers and they are not booked.”

“Players are doing that every weekend. Sit in front of the television and you will find them.”

On the impact of a clampdown on diving, Mourinho continued:

“I know that English teams will be punished in European competitions because in this country, and well, we are all fighting against it.

“And we go to the Champions League and to the Europa League, we get referees from other countries, referees from other cultures, we get players without this education that we all are trying to do.

“In (the) Champions League and Europa League something against English teams will happen.”