Luis Suarez can’t change his spots, says Mourinho
Cheslea boss highlights contentious incident near end of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Luis Suarez remains at the mercy of his “wild nature” despite the Liverpool striker’s improved conduct in the Premier League season.
Suarez was banned for 10 games after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a game last April, but he has since found the form to spearhead his side’s title challenge.
However, the Uruguayan was involved in a contentious incident towards the end of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, when he went down under a challenge from Samuel Eto’o after losing the ball to Cesar Azpilicueta.
But when the situation is like this, and you are losing, comes the nature of the player, the wild nature of the player or the cultural nature of the player
Referee Howard Webb ignored his appeal for a penalty, enabling Chelsea to complete a victory that took them to within two points of league leaders Arsenal and left Liverpool six points off the pace in fifth.
“Suarez lost the duel with Azpilicueta, Azpilicueta has the ball, Azpilicueta is leaving the box with the ball, and now he [Suarez] is doing an acrobatic swimming pool jump to try to get a penalty,” said Mourinho.
“Because he’s so clever he also knows he’s in the area where he has the Liverpool supporters behind [him]. But Webb is only 10 metres away and I think the only mistake Webb did was not to give him a yellow card.
“There’s no doubt he’s changed. But when the situation is like this, and you are losing, comes the nature of the player, the wild nature of the player or the cultural nature of the player.