By 40 Years A Blue
December 26 2005

The Special One's tactical changes this afternoon at The Bridge were in the same vein in the Blackburn game back in October when the visitors came to from a two goal deficit. In his post-match conference, Jose explained.

"It happened the same thing, the home team starts better and in the early minutes it looks like the game is finished - but we give them a gift. When they go in at half-time 2-1 instead of 2-0, the manager can motivate people and good players like Fulham have can come in the second-half and give you a fight. They did that."

Once Fulham equalised, Chelsea went four up front with Didier Drogba replacing Robert Huth.

"It was a good experience for the character of my team because 2-2 with 20 minute to go, you have to play under difficult circumstances. You play against very fast players like they have with only three defenders. We scored a goal, returned to our normal shape and after that fought hard against a very good side with a lot of self-belief. They gave us problems until the last seconds of the game. This decision is only possible because I trust the players’ mentality," Mourinho explained on playing three at the back and four up front.

Fulham's manager Chris Coleman acknowledged Jose tactical switch by saying, "José changed his formation so we had to change ours to match and from then on it probably suited them more the way the game was going. It is pointless us sitting back, we had to ask Chelsea questions. They were never settled at the back and they are the best defence in the league with the best defender in my eyes in John Terry. They also had Huth who is strong aerially but we terrorised them in the air all afternoon. We tried to stop them passing out from the back."

Jose then explained the reason for the half-time subsitution of Gudjohnsen for Wright-Phillips. He said "It was a decision because Joe Cole’s best position is to play from the wings. Joe is playing absolutely magnificent every game. I was thinking I was not very clever to have my best attacking player at this moment playing in midfield. I was losing his potential in attack so I preferred to put Joe there."

The other talking points were the penalties. One given to Fulham and the two 'handballs' by Knight and John Terry. "All of them were very difficult decisions for the referee," said Mourinho before adding that he had yet to see any replays.

"[Referee Graham] Poll was a participant in a very good game and it is not fair to the game to speak about these points."

Coleman, convinced the Terry incident should have resulted in a spot-kick, was prepared to admit there was a case to answer on Knight’s handball. He agreed that any criticism of Poll would be undeserved.

"He is a very good referee. At the pace the game is played at and with every incident scrutinised, I think referees need more help."

40 Years A Blue!