MOURINHO DEFENDS COSTA AFTER EMRE CAN INCIDENT

In ghlisten sports,Diego Costa's alleged stamps in Chelsea's Capital
One Cup semi-final win over Liverpool were
"absolutely accidental", says boss Jose Mourinho.
The striker trod on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel in
a second-leg tie that saw the Londoners progress
after extra time.
Mourinho said: "As the opponent is on the floor, he
puts his foot there when he's looking to the ball."
But Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said: "He has
this edge to him. With Emre Can, that was poor, I
felt."
The incident when Costa stood on the ankle of Can
took place close to the technical area in the first
half and prompted an angry response from the
Liverpool player.
Rodgers added: "He could easily hurdle over the
young player and he directs his studs right on to
his ankle, which could've been nasty.
"And again the one with Martin Skrtel. There's no
need to do it. That's the sad thing of it. He's a
top-class player and he's clever enough that the
officials don't see it."
Costa could face retrospective punishment from
the Football Association for the two incidents, if
referee Michael Oliver says he did not see them in
his report.
Premier League leaders Chelsea face second-
placed Manchester City on Saturday at Stamford
Bridge.
Spain international Costa was involved in three of
the game's main talking points, having also had a
penalty appeal turned down when tripped by Skrtel,
as Branislav Ivanovic's extra-time header secured
the Blues a 2-1 win on aggregate.
Declining to identify who he was talking about,
Mourinho accused a television pundit of having a
"campaign" against Costa.
He said: "I think maybe you are already influenced
by... I'm going to use a word which put me in
trouble but I think this time I cannot be punished
to say that there is a campaign on the television
with a certain pundit that is saying Diego Costa
'crimes'. This guy must be nuts.
"Great campaign. We know how much that pundit
loves Chelsea and particularly loves me.
"These guys, they have a very good seat, very good
money, no pressure. They are always right. They
never lose, they always win, but they have to be
fair and they have to be honest.
"Forget it. Let's go to Wembley. Come on. I don't
know his name, because when I see him I switch off
the television."
Mourinho, who admitted to missing the goal due to
a discussion with fourth official Phil Dowd,
appeared to be involved in a row on the touchline
with Liverpool counterpart Rodgers during a fiery
second half.
The Portuguese described himself and Rodgers as
"very different people".
Mourinho added: "He worked in Chelsea in my time
for a few years. I don't know if he learned
something with me or not. Maybe he did, maybe he
didn't.
"I could speak about Skrtel, I don't. He goes to the
television, he speaks about [Chelsea keeper Thibaut]
Courtois. He forgets [Liverpool keeper Simon]
Mignolet. I speak about Courtois and Mignolet.
"He forgets his goalkeeper. I don't forget my
goalkeeper, because my goalkeeper helped me to be
in the final.
"He is what he is. He is a fantastic manager, but
we are different people."
But the Liverpool boss said: "There is no problem.
It's a competitive game between two top sides and
the chimp comes out every now and then."