Jose Mourinho humiliated Nemanja Matic

The Blues boss brought on the midfielder at the break but hauled him off during the champions' 3-1 defeat and insisted he was not playing well mistakes

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho rejected suggestions he humiliated Nemanja Matic by bringing off the substitute when he had only been on for 27 minutes against Southampton.

The Blues lost 3-1 in a stunning Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge - the first time they have conceded three goals in a home league game under Mourinho in a result that leaves them with just eight points from as many games.



Matic had come on for Ramires at half-time with the score at 1-1, but was taken off for Loic Remy immediately after Graziano Pelle's fine finish had given the Saints a two-goal cushion.

Mourinho explained why he chose to replace him and not the likes of Cesc Fabregas or Oscar, who had been on since the start, although he did acknowledge the player's form has been below-par.

"It was not humiliating," he told reporters. "It was not the case. I do not do that to anyone, in football and in life.

"With the players, it is not easy. I like them, I trust them. I know they are good players but some of them are in a difficult moment - Matic is one of them. He is not playing well. He is not sharp defensively. He is making mistakes with the ball and not making the best decisions.

"I brought him on because even though Ramires did a great job in the first half with [Sadio] Mane, with a yellow card and an inexperienced referee I was afraid of a second yellow card and I changed him for Matic.

"Then when we concede a goal and I need to make a change. I want to play another striker, I have to take a player from the midfield. I kept Oscar because he is the one that creates more.

"I kept [Cesc] Fabregas because he is the one - maybe because of his formation in a difficult place to play which is Barcelona - who copes better with the pressure. Even not playing well, his emotional stability is high.

"So I decided to take off Matic but I like the player very much, I have a fantastic relationship with the boy. Humiliating him? For sure, I was not."

Fabregas is another player Mourinho feels has been out of form during his club's poor start to 2015-16, but the manager hailed the ex-Barcelona midfielder's strong character during troubled times.

He continued: "You feel the pressure. Some players are different than others and have a bigger personality.

"You can be critical of Fabregas because he is not playing especially well, I know that, but he never loses the confidence to try things, which for me is fundamental.

"I prefer a player that is not playing well but has confidence to try and is not influenced by the pressure or by some reaction from the crowd. I need the strong personality."