midfielder Eden Hazard on Friday of "not sacrificing
himself 100 per cent" for his teammates, two days
after their Champions League semifinal exit.
Hazard, 23, Chelsea's principal playmaker following
the sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United,
appeared to risk his coach's wrath when he criticised
Mourinho's tactics in their 3-1 semifinal second leg
defeat by Atletico at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The Belgian international, the PFA's Young Player
of the season, told French TV station beIN SPORTS
that Chelsea "were not made to play football."
Mourinho, speaking to reporters before Chelsea meet
Norwich City in their penultimate Premier League
match of the season on Sunday, responded by
seemingly questioning Hazard's commitment.
"The media was reporting that he was being critical,
but there was nothing critical in what he says,"
Mourinho said.
"But Eden is a player who is not mentally ready to
look back to his left back and leave his life for him.
"When the comments come from a player like Eden,
it's normal because he is not a player ready to
sacrifice himself 100 per cent for the team and his
teammates.
"The comments were not critical but I am not happy.
I speak to him all season and I try to improve him all
season."
CALF INJURY
Hazard, linked with a move to Paris St Germain,
returned to the side on Wednesday after missing four
matches due to a calf injury and did not have his
usual impact.
"Chelsea are not made to play football. We are good
on the counter-attack, a bit like Real Madrid against
Bayern Munich," Hazard said after the match.
"Often, I am asked to do it all by myself and it's not
easy."
Mourinho repeated his long-held belief that even
though Chelsea are only two points behind leaders
Liverpool with two matches to play, they are unlikely
to win the title.
Liverpool have 80 points, Chelsea 78 and
Manchester City, who have three matches left, are on
77 with a better goal difference and will almost
certainly be champions if they collect all nine points.
NOT BAD
Mourinho reflected on Chelsea's campaign which
now looks likely to end without a trophy.
"I don't think it's been a bad season," he said.
"It is a transitional season and to arrive where we
have arrived is very good.
"Normally you compare to the season before and if
you do that, Chelsea lost the title in November and
when Manchester United won the title, Chelsea were
something like 20 points behind.
"In the Champions League Chelsea were the first
team knocked out in the group stage after being
champions. It was a big step (this season) being able
to fight for the title and the Champions League.
"The players come back like they have to. Obviously
not champions but the feeling is that they had a good
campaign.
Chelsea have the best defensive record in the Premier
League having conceded only 28 goals all season
and face Norwich, who are 18th and have only
scored 26 times, the joint-lowest in the league.
They look likely to go down after three seasons in the
top flight but Mourinho will not be taking them
lightly.
"They will be fighting for their lives and we respect
them," he said.
"It will not be easy but we have to finish with two
wins against them and Cardiff in the last match. Two
teams fighting for their lives.
"Imagine if we are not champions if we don't win
these two matches against two teams desperate for
the points against us. That would not be a good
feeling for the players."
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