CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE Mourinho said he felt “ashamed” after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Bradford City.
Despite fielding a weakened side, hosts Chelsea were still 2-0 in front at Stamford Bridge only for Bradford to storm to a 4-2 victory at the Premier League leaders’ home ground.
“We must feel ashamed, me and the players must feel ashamed,” admitted the Portuguese coach.
“Frustration is not the right word, embarrassed would be more appropriate.
“I don’t feel so upset with myself because I did my work properly,” Mourinho told the BBC. “I thought I prepared my players.
“At half-time I told them exactly what could happen. Obviously I am also responsible for that, but the reality is that this happens a lot of times in this country.”
However, the Chelsea boss added: “Never to me. It is the first time it happens with me in English football. I can feel really happy for them (Bradford).
I was in that dressing room but at the same time I use the same word I used yesterday (Friday). It is a disgrace we were knocked out.”
Chelsea, who made nine changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Liverpool in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg, took a 21st-minute lead when Gary Cahill headed in from a corner.
Ramires made it 2-0 in the 38th minute but Jon Stead replied for Bradford three minutes later and former Chelsea youth player Filipe Morais equalised 15 minutes from time.
Bradford, a huge 51 places below Chelsea, went ahead eight minutes from time through Andy Halliday and even more incredibly, despite Mourinho sending on substitutes Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard from the bench, saw Mark Yeates come off the bench to make it 4-2 in the fourth of seven added-on minutes.
“What happened is football and football is beautiful,” Mourinho, in his second spell as Chelsea manager, said after seeing hopes of a ‘quadruple’ this season dashed in spectacular style.
“I think this is the beauty of football where a much better team can lose, which is difficult to happen in another sport and more possible to happen here in this country and this sport.
“The small-team mentality is special. My respect goes to that and to them, they did a fantastic history for them and their club.
I repeat a word I used before this match — it’s a disgrace for a big team to lose to a small team.”
Elated Bradford co-chairman Mark Lawn hailed his side’s remarkable victory: “We’ve just beaten Barcelona. We’ve just beaten a team that is as good asBarcelona.
“Phil Parkinson (the Bradford manager) inherited the worst squad we have ever had when he started here and I’ve been watching the team since 1964.
“His first job was to keep us in the league but we have had steady progress since then.”
