- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes blaming Chelsea for their recent performances is 'unfair'
- The Blues lost back to back Premier League matches to both Manchester clubs in the space of one week
- United beat Crystal Palace 3-2 on Monday, March 5, at the Selhurst Park
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has described the recent criticisms on the Premier League champions, Chelsea, and its manager as ‘unfair’ according to Goal.com.
The Blues, under Antonio Conte won the EPL title last season but barely one year later, they are struggling defending the trophy they won.
With their last two games against the Manchester teams ending in defeats, the Portuguese born tactician believes the Stamford Bridge outfit are being maligned unnecessarily.
Mourinho and Conte were involved in a war of words until since last season when Chelsea beat United 4-0 but the conflict seem to have been resolved at their last meeting over a week ago.
READ ALSO: Neymar commences recovery process ahead of 2018 World Cup
The former Real Madrid questioned Conte's integrity for being alleged to be involved in a match-fixing scandal – from which the Italian was later exonerated – and the Blues boss responded by calling his rival a ‘little man’.
"Honestly, I know what you are writing as a consequence of yesterday," Mourinho told reporters at Selhurst Park, 24 hours after Conte's side came under fire for their defensive approach in a 1-0 defeat at runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
"But Chelsea is a fantastic team and, I know it looks a bit strange because you know we had problems in the past, but it's quite ridiculous that I have to say how unfair it is to speak the way people are speaking about the English champion.
"They are still the English champion. Chelsea was strong against us. They started very strong and created difficulty in that initial part of the game.
"And tonight [Monday] I think Roy [Hodgson, Palace manager] was strong. We were expecting [Jairo] Riedewald in defensive midfield and [Alexander] Sorloth out left, but he came with a 4-4-2, two aggressive strikers together, strong in the air then dropping back to defend.
PAY ATTENTION: Like our Facebook sports page to stay in touch with latest sports news
"Roy was very good. I don't even want to blame my players and say the start was not good.
"The start was not good because they [Palace] were good and matches like this [going behind early], it's only possible if the two teams are good."
After Monday's win, Manchester United maintained their second position with a nine-point edge over Chelsea, who are fifth on the log with 53 points after 29 games – as their top four race is gradually slipping off their sleeves.
The Blues will host Crystal Palace this weekend at the Bridge before travelling to the Camp Nou to battle Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League encounter on Tuesday, March 14.
Smartphone giveaway winner announcement - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Sports.naija.ng