Ronald
Koeman and Jose Mourinho had different views regarding the performance of
referee Mike Dean in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Southampton in the Premier
League on Sunday.
Koeman said the referee did a "great job" while Mourinho was left frustrated
with Dean's decision to not award his side a penalty.
Dean gave Saints a spot kick in the first-half for a foul from behind by
Nemjana Matic on Saido Mane, which Dusan Tadic scored to cancel out Diego
Costa's opener, but Dean waved away a similar appeal for a Chelsea penalty
in the second half when Jose Fonte tackled Costa.
Matic could have been sent off for a second booking in the second-half after
another foul on Mane, who had skipped away from the midfielder, but Dean
decided to keep his red card in his pocket.
When asked about the penalty Southampton were awarded Koeman said: "In my
opinion it's a penalty, yes.
"It's difficult jobs for referees. (Matic on Mane) is a foul that maybe can
be a yellow card and that means his second one.
"It's always difficult. I'm not supporting referees showing eight, nine, 10
yellow cards every game.
"In my opinion, the referee did a great job today."
Chelsea boss Mourinho was tight-lipped in his press conference about the
Costa penalty incident and on another penalty shout when Branislav Ivanovic
went down in the area under a challenge from Tadic.
The Blues are six points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a game
in-hand, but for the second successive match against Southampton, Mourinho
bemoaned decisions by the match officials.
Mourinho was fined £25,000 for saying there was a "clear campaign" against
his side after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty and booked for diving
instead in the December 28 draw at St Mary's.
"I'm happy with the situation. I'm happy with the six-point lead, but I'm
not happy with the result," Mourinho said.
"If you remember our two matches against Southampton: in one game, one
penalty that is not a penalty and in another game a penalty that was not
given. You are speaking about six points transformed into two points."
"My opinion is not important. Important is Mr Mike Dean (the referee).
"His decision was a penalty and his decision was no penalty on Ivanovic."
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