CARDIFF, Wales -- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was ejected
during the League Cup final Sunday, saying police thought he was
inciting Liverpool fans by gesturing that they remain silent.
Mourinho said the referee acted at the behest of police during
his team's 3-2 overtime victory, which gave him his first trophy in
English soccer. He watched much of the game on TV after his ouster
in the 79th minute.
Mourinho insisted his gesture -- placing his finger to his lips --
was aimed not at fans but at reporters who had written critically
of his team.
"To me it's unusual to be sent off by a policeman," the
manager said. "Not by a referee or a fourth official but by a
policeman.
"The policeman told the fourth official 'Mr. Mourinho has to go
out.' It's a bit of a special situation for me. If I made a mistake
I apologize," he added.
The ejection came after Chelsea scored with 11 minutes left in
regulation. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard accidentally headed a
long free kick past his goalkeeper, evening the score after John
Arne Riise's goal just 43 seconds into the game.
Mourinho reacted by walking along the side of the field with his
finger to his lips. The Liverpool fans were furious because they
thought the manager was mocking them. Police then acted.
Mourinho said his gesture was aimed at journalists who had said
Chelsea was folding after two consecutive losses in big games.
Chelsea was knocked out of the FA Cup by Newcastle a week ago, then
lost 2-1 at FC Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"I have respect for the Liverpool fans," Mourinho told
reporters. "It was to say to you 'Be cool. Put your pen in your
pocket.' I did this (putting his finger to his lip) because a lot
of you are frustrated at this moment that you cannot write what you
want to write."
Mourinho joined Chelsea this season and is on course toward
leading the team to the Premier League title. He coached FC Porto
of Portugal to the Champions League a year after winning the UEFA
Cup.
"If you think you can put pressure on me, no problem,"
Mourinho said. "If the Chelsea fans or the Chelsea board want me
to go, the next morning I go. ... I have trophies. I have money. I
can live without my job at Chelsea."
Mourinho was asked why he appeared to wave toward a section of
the Liverpool fans after his team's victory.
"I was waving to my wife," he said.