Joy for Chelsea, probe for Jose

Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2

However, while the Chelsea boss apologised for the controversy which marred his first trophy in English football, he immediately launched an angry attack on his critics.

Mourinho was asked to leave the bench after Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had headed into his own net to hand Chelsea, who were trailing 1-0 from John Arne Riise’s early goal, a late lifeline.

The Chelsea boss was seen putting his finger to his lips, apparently in a gesture to the Liverpool fans who were seated behind him in the Millennium Stadium.

He was sent to the dressing rooms, where he watched on television as Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman struck the goals which, despite a late strike by Antonio Nunez, handed Chelsea the trophy.

But rather than inciting the fans, Mourinho later insisted he was merely answering those critics waiting for him to fail - even though the media were all seated over the other side of the ground.

“I don’t regret it. The only thing I have to understand is I’m in England, so maybe even when I think I am not wrong, I have to adapt to your country and I have to respect that,” he said.

“I have a lot of respect for Liverpool fans and what I did, the sign of silence - ‘shut your mouth’- was not for them it was for the English press.

“They speak too much because Chelsea lost two matches in a week.

“But don’t speak too soon. We have the first title and almost for sure we will have the second one (the Premiership).”

As for the incident, he revealed: “The policeman told the fourth official that ‘Mr Mourinho has to go out’.

“This is a special situation for me but if I made a mistake and did something that I cannot do in English football, then I have to adapt and understand where I am.

“If I made a mistake then I apologise. I am happy that I’m not going to jail because of that.”

Despite his protestations, Mourinho still seems likely to face an FA investigation into his actions, with referee Steve Bennett confirming he would mention the incident in his report.

“Someone asked me last week whether I wanted to be loved by the football world or to win trophies. I said that I just want to win trophies. I don’t want to be in love with you,” he declared.

“You can say what you want to about me, it doesn’t put pressure on me. The day that the Chelsea fans or the Chelsea board want me to go, then I will go the next morning.

“So you cannot put pressure on me - no way. I have trophies, I have money, I can live without my job at Chelsea. My life will carry on.”

Mourinho denied the last week had turned up the heat on him and his players and said the only person he had to measure up to in England was Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

“I’m not feeling the pressure. I have read a lot of times this week I have to prove a lot in English football,” he added.

“Sir Alex is the only European champion in this country so I have to prove what?”

On the match Mourinho said: “I’m very happy not just for me. For me it is not so important but for the fans, the club and the players - especially for the players who were in the squad for a few years without silverware.

“It is very difficult to win for the first time.”

However, he angrily responded to suggestions he had waved at the Liverpool fans when he returned from the Sky Sports room, where he had watched extra-time, in time for the celebrations.

“I was waving at my wife as she was there. Before the game, I was sending kisses to her from the same place,” he said.

“I have to adapt to English football and the English press, but you have to adapt to me.

“If you don’t adapt to me and come to my press conferences, then we will have a (verbal) fight.”

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas (Kezman 74), Jarosik (Gudjohnsen 45), Lampard, Makelele, Cole (Johnson 81), Drogba, Duff.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore (Biscan 67), Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Kewell (Nunez 56), Morientes (Baros 74).

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).