Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho refused to comment on John Terry's dismissal after his
side's 3-2 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns, but filed a barbed apology
to his critics for the victory.
Chelsea took advantage of James Morrison's penalty miss to take a 2-0 lead
thanks to a debut goal from the impressive Pedro, and a tap in from Diego
Costa, before Morrison cut the deficit.
Cesar restored the two-goal lead before the break, but the game's talking
point occurred just after the interval, with Terry given a straight red card
for fouling West Brom record signing Salomon Rondon.
Morrison brought the Baggies back in the contest with a glancing header, but
the Blues hung on for their first win of the season, and Mourinho remained
tight-lipped about whether he thought Terry's dismissal was warranted, and
left his critics a prickly message.
"I have to say sorry to many people that we won the match, because it is a
huge disappointment for many," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"I don't think [about the red card]. I prefer not to think. I prefer to do
what I have been trying to do since the beginning of the championship, which
is to focus on the game and on the result.
"It was a fantastic performance. When we had the ball we were always
dangerous, and the three goals is short for the chances that we created and
for the football we played.
"After that incident, with 10 men, the spirit and the organisation and fight
in defensive areas was excellent, but also the intelligence to keep the ball
away from dangerous areas I think was a great effort by the players. I am
more than happy.
"I am not happy with four points from three matches but I am happy with the
team."
Pedro earned a Man of the Match award for his stunning debut showing, and
Mourinho admitted his surprise that the former Barcelona forward has settled
into the team so quickly.
"There is always a question mark about new players, how they will adapt,"
Mourinho added. "Many top players come to the Premier League and struggle to
adapt, and after that they lose bits of confidence.
"For him to come and player the way he did, I think is very nice."
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