Chelsea vs Arsenal: José Mourinho says Diego Costa didn't deserve red card but Man of the Match

José Mourinho has hit back at Arsene Wenger after the Arsenal boss claimed Diego Costa should have been sent off during the Chelsea 2-0 victory over the Gunners on Saturday, 19 September. The Portuguese boss claimed that the Spanish striker eventually made a Man of the Match performance and denied he deserved the red card for shoving the face of Laurent Koscielny just before Gabriel Paulista was sent off for kicking out at him before the half-time.

The Blues took their numerical advantage to secure the victory thanks to the goals of Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard in the second half – with Santi Cazorla also being sent off after seeing two yellow cards. Mourinho claimed that his side deserved the victory while hitting back at Wenger for making excuses and failed to cope with the defeat.

"I played against Arsenal many times and only once he didn't moan. That day we lost the game, we lost the cup (Community Shield). It wasn't good for us but we behaved in a fantastic way. No excuses, no crying, no moaning," he said. "I played my first derby in September 2000, Benfica against Sporting. I told my players before the game you need emotional control. I've played derbies in Portugal, Spain, Italy, England and you don't win derbies without emotional control, it's a basic thing. I think you should speak about Gabriel and his mistake."

Mourinho, nevertheless, praised the excellent performance of Costa while claimed that the referee rather than help the Blues to secure the victory failed to give them two clear penalties.

"Diego Costa played like he has to play. That's why you have full stadiums and you sell the game around the world for millions, because the game has to be played like that. That's why tomorrow I will go to a game which is comparable in terms of passion and dedication, New Zealand against Argentina, I love it. Diego was fantastic, Man of the Match for me," he said. "It was the same referee that made every decision and didn't give two clear penalties to us. Gabriel did something to Hazard which is allowed in rugby, not football. In the box it's a penalty. In the second half another player did the same on Diego Costa. In rugby it's fantastic, in football it's a penalty. He said before the game I have to cope with my defeat, tonight he has to cope with his defeat."