EPL: Norwich defending surprise Mourinho
was surprised by Norwich's defensive
tactics in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho was expecting Norwich to go all
guns blazing as they realistically needed to
beat the Blues to maintain their chances of
avoiding relegation from the Premier
League.
But instead it was Chelsea who had 23
shots during the game, with Norwich
sitting back and trying to play on the
counter-attack, failing to regularly trouble
the home defence.
The result leaves Norwich needing a huge
turn-around in goal difference with West
Brom and Sunderland, both of whom have
two games remaining and face one another
in midweek.
As for Chelsea, the point took them three
ahead of Arsenal in the race for third and it
would take a huge swing in goal difference
(18) for them not to end the season in that
spot, with Mourinho having all but given
up on the title.
"We had one team that needed three points
to have a chance to survive, and they
didn't play to win," Mourinho told Sky
Sports.
"You had a team that needs one point to
finish third, and in the Champions League
group phase, and that team played like the
one needing three points so it was a bit of
a contradiction.
"(Their gameplan) surprised me but
anyone plays like they want. It's not my
responsibility, it is their responsibility.
"We were waiting for a kind of crazy game,
especially in the second half, where they
would gamble everything to try for a last
chance to survive, but they didn't. Even
worse - they defended much more but
that's their problem. We have not a right to
criticise.
"I think we lost 45 minutes because in the
first half we were very slow. Like the
weather, players were playing very slow
with no intensity.
"In the second half the intensity was
completely different, the dynamic too. The
players they wanted it much, much more
and we tried everything.
"We know we have no chances to be
champions and we know we need one
point to finish in the group phase of the
Champions League, which obviously is not
a cup for us but affects the next season. It
affects pre-season and it was important
for us to finish third.
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