What you might have missed: Jose Mourinho also asked about key player humiliation

Nemanja Matic was subbed off just 18 minutes in his second-half stint at Stamford Bridge

JOSE MOURINHO not only spoke about his future last night but also addressed his team selection following Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Southampton.

 

Mourinho captivated us all when insisting he would not quit as manager during a seven-minute rant.

He hit out at Premier League referees for not awarding his team a penalty when the scores were locked at 1-1 and also challenged owner Roman Abramovich to sack him.

 

But the Portuguese also fielded questions over his decision making - in particular the move to take Nemanja Matic off in the second half, despite the player only entering the field at the break.

"It was not humiliating [for him]," Mourinho insisted.

"I don’t do that to anyone in football or in life. It’s something if I do, I do without any intention.

 

"I like the players, I trust them and I know they are good players but some of them are in a difficult moment, and Matic is one of them.

"He is not playing well, he is not sharp, defensively he is making mistakes.

"I played him because Ramires was doing a great job on (Saido) Mane, but with a yellow card and an inexperienced referee I was afraid of a second yellow card, so I changed him for Matic.

 

Loic Remy (right) replaced Matic but could not inspire a Chelsea comeback

"With the second goal I needed to make a change, play another striker for a player from midfield.

"I kept Oscar because he creates more, I kept Fabregas because, maybe because of his formation at Barcelona, he copes better with the pressure.

"Even not playing well his emotional stability is high.

"I decided to take Matic off, but I like the player very much. I have a fantastic relationship with the boy."