An angry Jose Mourinho broke his media blackout following Chelsea's shock home defeat against Sunderland to launch a carefully worded attack on referee Mike Dean and Premier League match officials chief Mike Riley, sarcastically congratulating them on an "unbelievable" performance.
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caption:Jose Mourinho was not happy with referee Mike Dean during Chelsea's defeat to Sunderland.
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• Delaney:
Mourinho loses it
• Randall:
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Mourinho has not spoken to the media since he was fined for entering the field of play at the end of his side's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa last month, but he appeared on Sky Sports immediately after the Premier League's bottom club, Sunderland, ended his 77-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge with a shock 2-1 win.
"I only have four things to say," a clearly agitated Mourinho said.
"Congratulations to my players because they gave what they have and what they don't have. Congratulations to Sunderland because they won.
"Congratulations to Mike Dean because he made a fantastic performance. And congratulations to Mike Riley because what they did during the season was fantastic for the way the championship is going.
"So congratulations to all of them, and I have nothing more to say. I'm sorry."
With that, Mourinho refused to answer any more questions, as he was aggrieved by the match officials' decision to award Sunderland a match-winning penalty after Sunderland substitute Jozy Altidore drew a penalty from a Cesar Azpilicueta foul eight minutes from time.
Fabio Borini, on loan from title rivals Liverpool, then slotted home the winner.
After speaking on television, Mourinho continued his line of attack in another brief news conference with the written media, as he delivered many of the same points with equally abrupt gusto.
"It doesn't matter how, why or which way they won, but they won the three points, so congratulations to them," he said.
"I want to congratulate again, but this time it's Mike Dean. His performance was unbelievable. When referees have an unbelievable performance, it is fair also that, as managers, we give them this, so fantastic performance. He came with one objective: to make a fantastic performance, and he did that.
"Congratulations to Mike Riley because he is the referees' boss. What they have done all season is fantastic, especially in the last couple of months, especially with the teams involved in the title race. I also congratulate Mr. Mike Riley."