Mourinho defends Matic after costly miss

Jose Mourinho defended Nemanja Matic after the Chelsea midfielder was unable to take a crucial chance to score in the 1-0 defeat at home against Bournemouth.

Matic, playing with a protective mask because of a broken nose, headed over from Willian’s deflected cross before Glenn Murray broke the deadlock.

Blues boss Mourinho said: “It was difficult for him with the mask and difficult because the cross came in so fast and it was difficult for him to react. I know the goal was empty, but that one was a difficult one.”

But Mourinho, who felt Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty and that Murray’s goal should have been ruled out for offside, admitted his team paid the price for missing other opportunities.

He said: “Others were short and low crosses and you have to get a touch to the ball. These are big chances and you have to score.

“In the first half we were passive and didn’t press enough – were not intense enough.

“But in the second half we did that and in our best period, when everybody was waiting for our goal, they score.

“We had enough chances and more half-chances. We didn’t deserve this result.”