Jose Mourinho slammed for ‘appalling’ behaviour

Jose Mourinho’s behaviour towards Chelsea first-team doctor Eva Carneiro has been “absolutely appalling”, according to leading sports physician Peter Brukner.

Towards the end of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Swansea, the reigning champions were temporarily reduced to nine men as Eden Hazard had to leave the field following treatment.

Chelsea boss Mourinho was visibly infuriated to see physio Jon Fearn and doctor Carneiro run on to the field to give him that treatment, telling the media afterwards that their “impulsive and naive” decision showed they did not “understand the game”.

Since then, it has emerged that Carneiro’s role is changing, meaning she will no longer be involved in matches and training sessions.

Brukner, formerly Liverpool’s head of sports medicine and sports science, believes Mourinho owes his medical staff an apology.

“I thought it was appalling behaviour by the manager,” he said.

“He has a player who has gone down, who has remained down and the referee obviously considered it serious enough to summon the doctor and the physio.

“They went on as they must do when they are summoned on and the player is down, and as a result the player had to come off the ground. What do you expect the doctor to do?”

Mourinho said Hazard was merely dealing with tiredness and a knock, but Brukner defended the medics’ decision to enter the field of play.

“Maybe he should be criticising his player for staying down, rather than the medical staff,” he said. “The medical staff deserve a public apology.”