Chelsea boss Mourinho says he's mystified by banishment

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is mystified as to why he was sent off in his side's stunning 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday and says he is eagerly awaiting the referee's report to discover if he faces any further disciplinary action.

Mourinho found himself at the center of a storm of controversy as his side surrendered the initiative to Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

Fabian Delph's 82nd-minute goal either side of dismissals for Chelsea duo Willian and Ramires inflicted a damaging defeat on the Blues as they failed to extend their advantage over second-placed City beyond six points, with Manuel Pellegrini's team having three games in hand.

And frustrations boiled over in added time when Mourinho ventured onto the field to vent his anger over Ramires' red card - for a two-footed lunge on Karim El Ahmadi - before subsequently receiving his own marching orders from the referee.

The Portuguese insisted afterwards he was in the dark as to why he was dismissed, claiming the official twice refused to speak with him - once during the game and once afterwards down the tunnel.

He also questioned why Gabby Agbonlahor, by then on the substitutes' bench, escaped punishment after claiming he "made an aggression" by storming onto the pitch and "pulling Ramires by his neck".

"It is a big occasion for me to know about the character of the referee because I want to know what he is going to write about my sending off," said Mourinho.

"If it was because I was on the pitch, it was 4-5 meters inside the pitch, then there should be 10 people (sent off).

"Almost all of us tried to calm things down. If I was sent off because I was on the pitch I ask why not all the others? Especially a player who made an aggression - Agbonlahor on Ramires.

"He came from the dugout, grabbed Ramires and pulled him by his neck. He was on the bench!

"I tried to speak with the referee twice. I tried on the pitch and I tried in the dressing rooms.

"I asked politely if he could give me five seconds and he refused.

"I prefer not to speak. If I speak I will be in trouble. I don't want to do something we are not allowed to do.

"We are not allowed to speak about referees. I do not want to be charged for bringing the game into disrepute."

It meant more frustration at Villa Park - the only top-flight ground in England at which he has not won - for Mourinho, yet he refused to be drawn into what it meant for Chelsea's title chances.

"We have now the same number of points that we had before the match," said the coach.

"We are not in the title race; we are in a match race. We play every game to win."

Villa boss Paul Lambert hailed his team's display as it moved into the top half.

"I thought we were outstanding," he said. "I don't want to talk about the decisions. I only want to talk about the football and us beating a top side.

"The goal from Fabian was fantastic. The cut-back from Albrighton was excellent and the finish was world-class against a goalkeeper (Petr Cech) who has been one of the best."

(China Daily 03/17/2014 page23)