Mourinho didn’t see Rijkaard Actually

By Brenz
March 28 2005

Jose Mourinho didn't see Frank Rijkaard enter the changing room of referee Anders Frisk at half time during the much-discussed game between FC Barcelona and Chelsea. 'But I know it happened, there's no doubt about it'

'If there's something happening in a football stadium and I don't notice it but my staff does than I say it's true, I fully trust my staff on that' stated Mourinho at a meeting to plead for peace in Tel Aviv, Israel. He further stated: "I can't work without loyalty, I believe in my staff.”

Earlier in a signed statement he let the UEFA know that he personally saw Rijkaard enter the room of Anders Frisk. On the basis of other statements from the Chelsea staff UEFA concluded that their was something wrong with the story of Mourinho.

According to UEFA spokesmen William Gaillard it was physically impossible that two people could have seen the accident. Due to these contradictions the UEFA announced that they plan to take action against Mourinho, his assistant Steve Clarke and Mourinho's security guard Les Miles.

Mourinho accused Rijkaard of affecting Frisk and ultimately the course of the game. The fact that the Swedish referee gave a red card to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba after half-time and because of that Barça could turn around 0-1 to a 2-1 victory was the evidence according to the Chelsea camp.

May the UEFA come to conclusion that Chelsea is guilty of 'bringing football in disrepute', then the sanction could vary from a fine to disqualification from the Champions League.

But Mourinho is adamant that he will stand up to the charges and clear his and his staffs names stating:

"I don't run away from problems and I don't change, especially when I believe in what I am doing," he added.

"I am a man of beliefs. If I believe I have the truth in my hands I don't run away from a fight. I don't have to change my personality or my principles.

"I am the manager and I have people who assist me. If something happened in the football stadium and I don't see it, and, if some of my people arrive and say to me 'I saw this, this happened'. And, if another one comes and says 'I saw the same' then I say it is true because I can't work without loyalty and I have to believe my people.

"Of course I am not a perfect man, no chance. Of course I have a lot of bad qualities but the people who work with me know I am loyal to my people.

"Because I am loyal to my people I am involved in something I don't want to be involved in but I won't run away from it so you don't have to ask me any more questions about Uefa problems."