Jose Mourinho said his Chelsea side were “in trouble” after they gave up a 1-0 lead in their dramatic 3-2 away defeat against Stoke City.
The Portuguese looked angry and rattled in his post-match duties and blamed another wasteful display for the loss. “I don’t feel comfortable enough to tell you what I think about the game. We’re in trouble. It is a concern [conceding so many goals]. I don’t like it, I don’t organise my teams to be like this.”
Chelsea have now conceded seven goals in their last three games, against Stoke, Sunderland and Southampton.
The Blues dominated the first half against Stoke and led 1-0 but wasted numerous good chances and several good positions.
Stoke levelled and went on to win with a much-improved second-half display.
Andre Schurrle’s fine early strike put the Blues ahead but Peter Crouch’s close-range shot and Stephen Ireland’s neatly curled effort put the hosts in front.
German international Schurrle scored with a wonderful half-volley to restore parity only for another replacement, Oussama Assaidi, to score a classy last-minute winner.
Mourinho was convinced the Londoners should have wrapped up the win before Crouch netted.
“I could see that result happening because after half an hour we should have been winning three or four nil – and we weren’t,” Mourinho added.
“The three players behind the striker [Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Schurrle] were playing so well, creating so much, but you have to kill the game. Normally you kill the game but we didn’t.
“I can compare this first half with another two first halves – Everton and Newcastle, they were exactly the same.
“We didn’t score enough goals and on top of that we made defensive mistakes. If you don’t score a lot of goals but you don’t make defensive mistakes, then you can win with just one goal.
“In the last 15 or 20 minutes we didn’t play well, the game they wanted was the game we gave them.
“I think the players trying to give everything to the team and working hard, and when players try to give everything to my team, I can’t criticise.”
With victory at the Britannia Stadium, the Blues could have moved to within a point of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
But they could end Sunday seven points behind the Gunners if Arsene Wenger’s men beat Everton.
“Maybe we [will be],” said Mourinho. “But when you see us in relation to Man City, Man Utd, Tottenham, Liverpool… I think we are not doing bad.”
