Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has criticised “philosophers” who question his side’s tactics.
The club’s defensive approach has been criticised following a 0-0 draw with Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid and a 2-0 win at Liverpool.
Mourinho said: “Football is full of philosophers, people who understand much more than me. Amazing. But the reality is the reality. A team that doesn’t defend well doesn’t have many chances to win.”
Mourinho, 51, could seal a third Champions League title with as many clubs if Chelsea can overcome Atletico in the second leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
His side had only 31 per cent of possession at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium in last week’s first leg and 27% of possession in the win against Liverpool on Sunday to keep alive their Premier League title hopes.
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The tactics led Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers to claim Chelsea had “parked two buses” in an attempt to keep his side from scoring.
“If the opponent is very fast and needs space behind your defence and you give them that space, you are stupid,” added Mourinho, who said Rodgers congratulated him for the win on Tuesday.
Should Chelsea reach the Champions League final in Lisbon on 24 May, Mourinho, who managed Porto and Inter Milan to success in the tournament in 2004 and 2010 respectively, will face former club Real Madrid, who thrashed holders Bayern Munich 4-0 in Germany to win 5-0 on aggregate.
Mourinho guided Los Blancos to the Spanish league title in 2012, but Ramon Calderon, the club’s president between 2006 and 2009, says the Portuguese was “not the right man” for the club.
“At Real, we have some codes of behaviour,” Calderon told BBC Radio 5 live. “A lot of people didn’t like the way he behaved. Carlo Ancelotti brought something different and that is perfect.”
Mourinho has been boosted for the second leg with Atletico on Wednesday by the return of captain John Terry following an ankle injury.
He had previously claimed Terry would not play again unless the Blues reached the final and says he thinks the Champions League “owes” the defender something.
Terry, 33, was suspended when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to lift the trophy in 2012 and missed a crucial penalty in the final defeat by Manchester United in 2008.
“My captain is playing at the same level as when I left Chelsea in 2007-08,” said Mourinho. “I think he deserves more than the Champions League gives to him until now.”
Terry, whose current contract expires in the summer, told a news conference ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge that he was hopeful “ongoing” talks would lead to a new deal with the club.
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