Robben: refs have it in for me

Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0

This laboured victory put Chelsea 15 points ahead of Manchester United and also soothed the pain of their Champions League defeat to Barcelona. But the Londoners’ achievement was almost immediately clouded by their winger Arjen Robben’s claim that he is being singled out for unfair treatment by referees.

This is not the first time Chelsea have cried foul against the authorities. Last season, Mourinho accused Barca’s manager Frank Rijkaard of being in cahoots with the Swedish official Anders Frisk after his team’s acrimonious 2-1 defeat at the Nou Camp. Earlier this year, the Portuguese denounced Sky for their coverage of Michael Essien’s agricultural hack on Liverpool’s Didier Hamman, claiming the broadcasters were responsible for UEFA banning the Ghanian for two European matches.