Mourinho issues withering assessment of Newcastle's failings

Having been roundly criticised in the wake of back-to-back home defeats to Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle’s players produced a much-improved performance as they drew 2-2 with the Premier League champions.

Mourinho has now made six Premier League visits to St James’ Park and, remarkably, the Chelsea boss is still to leave with a victory.

Newcastle’s record against the Blues stands in marked contrast to their performances against some of the top-flight’s lesser lights, and Mourinho feels the discrepancy highlights a major character flaw that is holding the Magpies back.

“I think maybe one of the reasons why Newcastle over the years don’t get good positions is because of this mentality,” said Mourinho.

“It’s because they choose some matches to sweat blood and, in other matches, they don’t. This is an attitude typical of a team that wins nothing.

“It’s bad for them because, if they play like this, they win many matches at home. They don’t, but this is their problem.

“The reality is that they fought hard, they gave everything, they followed a line that many pundits gave straight away – you have to fight, you have to kick, you have to tackle, you have to run.

“They were exactly that, and they fought for a point, and I think they deserved a point the way they fought.”

Mourinho was pleased with his own players’ efforts in the final 15 minutes of the game, but delivered a withering assessment of their performance before that point, especially in the first half.

“We were so poor, so bad in the first half,” he said. “It is possible to win the game with a good period, but when you don’t play for 45 minutes, it’s very difficult.

“I told the players at half-time that I have no time to ask them why they were so bad. I want to try to understand because I don’t accept it.

“I am not a magician. I tried my best for the team. At half-time, I said I was sorry I only had three subs as I wanted to change six.”