Mourinho accused of getting facts wrong Kevin McCarra Wednesday October 18, 2006 The Guardian Chelsea have renewed their complaints over the incident in which Petr Cech sustained a fractured skull at Reading on Saturday. In addition to reasserting his belief that the Football Association should take action against Stephen Hunt, whose knee caused the damage, Jose Mourinho was also angered by alleged delays in getting the goalkeeper to hospital. Chelsea's manager stated that Cech had to be transported by lift and wheelchair to an ambulance that drew up at the other side of the Madejski Stadium. Article continues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- His accusation that the player had to wait 30 minutes for an ambulance has been rejected in a highly specific response by Graham Groves of the South Central Ambulance Service. "Chelsea called an ambulance at 17.45 which arrived at the ground at 17.52. Cech was in hospital by 18.11. The removal of the patient was a decision taken by Chelsea, who were offered two routes. One was round the pitch on a stretcher. The other was by a small lift, via a wheelchair." Reading last night endorsed this timeline, stating that Mourinho's account contained "very serious factual inaccuracies". They say Chelsea opted not to call an ambulance at the first opportunity, but only did so 25 minutes after Cech left the pitch when his condition deteriorated. They added it was Chelsea's medical team who opted to use the lift and that the other route had indeed been taken later by Cech's substitute, Carlo Cudicini, who was also injured. The manager may not have been conscious of the passage of time in which the goalkeeper's condition deteriorated before an ambulance became essential. Mourinho is still unlikely to be persuaded that arrangements at the Madejski Stadium were ideal. "If my goalkeeper dies in that dressing room or in the process [of going to hospital] it is something English football has to think about," he said. "This is much more important than football. I would like someone to tell me why my goalkeeper was left in this situation." Mourinho continues to accuse Hunt of a reckless challenge on his goalkeeper. "I don't change one single word of my interviews after the game," he said. His dissatisfaction with the the lack of immediate action from the FA is also pronounced. "When I did that shut up [gesture] against Liverpool [fans in the League Cup final], that was a nightmare," he said sarcastically of official interest in lesser matters. "That a player from Man City [Joey Barton] should show his a*** for two seconds, that was also a nightmare. But I think this is a real nightmare." Chelsea will pursue all matters regarding Cech with the FA and the Premier League. They are still collating evidence and may not submit their views in writing until next week. In a statement last night they said: "Questions regarding the two tackles on Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, and the medical procedures to treat [their] injuries, will be in the submission." Mourinho reported an improvement Cech's condition . "There was an evolution from yesterday to today," he said. "Today he can speak, he can speak properly." He tried to redirect his players' minds to tonight's Champions League game with Barcelona, but Didier Drogba's comments to L'Equipe show the squad have not forgotten Hunt. "It's not an accident," he said. "He saw he was going to hit Petr and he didn't try to avoid it. When Petr was carried out of the ground he was laughing." A Reading spokesman said: "The accusation is nothing new. We have already responded to that." Mourinho's version "My goalkeeper was in the dressing room for 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance. The ambulance could not go in the direction of the dressing room. He could not leave the dressing room properly. He had to go in a wheelchair in the lift when he had the injury. He left 30 minutes after my doctor called for an urgent ambulance. If my goalkeeper dies in that dressing room or in the process it is something English football has to think about." South Central NHS trust version 17.15 Cech injured 17.20 Cech taken to dressing room. Chelsea doctor does not think ambulance necessary 17.45 Cech's condition deteriorates and Chelsea doctor requests ambulance 17.52 Ambulance arrives at Madejski Stadium 18.11 Ambulance arrives at Royal Berkshire hospital LINK
