adminLONDON. — Jose Mourinho claimed Chelsea’s Barclays English Premier League soccer title challenge was over after his side’s shock 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mourinho’s men shot themselves in the foot as a second-half own goal from captain John Terry condemned the Blues to their fifth league defeat of the season.
The Chelsea manager has spent most of the campaign insisting his players are too inexperienced to be regarded as serious title contenders and, in what looked an attempt to take the pressure off his squad, he was quick to write off their title hopes after the setback in south London.
“Now we have lost our chance of finishing first. Now we depend too much on other results,” said Mourinho.
Mourinho admitted the Blues had only themselves to blame for their predicament following a lacklustre display against relegation-threatened Palace.
“Crystal Palace deserved the victory, they fought for their lives,” he said.
“We had good chances and their goalkeeper made some good saves in the first half. But their spirit was stronger, their desire was stronger and their commitment was stronger. — AFP.
Online Reporter