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Wednesday, 1 November 2006, 09:48 GMT

Mourinho continues Barcelona row

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hailed their "magnificent" Champions League draw against Barcelona - then launched an attack on the Catalan side's approach.

He said after Didier Drogba's late equaliser in the 2-2 draw: "I'm very proud. It was a very powerful display."

But he added: "I think it is not easy for a referee to be a referee when the players are diving minute after minute.

"I think Frank Rijkaard is a lucky manager because his Barcelona stars are protected match after match."

"It's not easy for the referee to be always under pressure from the players, turning round and rolling on the pitch"
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Mourinho was also unhappy at Barcelona putting pressure on referee Stefano Farina, who booked six Chelsea players as he brandished 10 yellow cards.

He said: "It was not an aggressive game. But when you see so many cards, mainly for us, it is because people chase the cards.

"Sometimes there were seven or eight players surrounding the referee asking him to give cards.

"It's not easy for the referee to be always under pressure from the players, turning round and rolling on the pitch.

"It was both sides contributing but clearly one was doing it more than the other."

606: DEBATE
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Craig

Drogba scored with seconds left after it looked like former Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen had sent them to defeat when he put Barcelona 2-1 ahead.

Frank Lampard had equalised Deco's early goal, but Mourinho thought his players had been denied key decisions by referee Stefano Farina.

Mourinho added: "We are not far from finishing first in the group. It was a very powerful performance, it was magnificent.

"It was very difficult when we conceded an early goal but the team played with a lot of confidence."

"For me it looked like two penalties for us, but I have to give the doubt because I did not see it on television and the referee did not have the benefit of television."

Barcelona coach Rijkaard stormed on to the pitch to confront referee Farina at the final whistle and had to be restrained by captain Carles Puyol.

But he said: "He blew up one minute before he should have done but I'm not blaming that for the result.

"It was a battle on the pitch and it was very interesting during the game and I went on because I wanted to thank the referee for his participation."



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Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea (31 Oct 06 |  Europe )

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