Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has again launched an attack on Barcelona’s approach following the 2-2 draw between the two teams on Tuesday.
“I’m very proud. It was a very powerful display.”
But he added: “I think it is not easy for a referee to be a referee when the players are diving minute after minute.
“I think Frank Rijkaard is a lucky manager because his Barcelona stars are protected match after match.”
Mourinho was also unhappy at Barcelona players trying to influence referee Stefano Farina, who booked six Chelsea players and ten in total.
“It was not an aggressive game,” he added. “But when you see so many cards, mainly for us, it is because people chase the cards.
“Sometimes there were seven or eight players surrounding the referee asking him to give cards.
“It’s not easy for the referee to be always under pressure from the players, turning round and rolling on the pitch.
“It was both sides contributing but clearly one was doing it more than the other.”
Mourinho added: “We are not far from finishing first in the group. It was a very powerful performance, it was magnificent.
“It was very difficult when we conceded an early goal but the team played with a lot of confidence.”
“For me it looked like two penalties for us, but I have to give the doubt because I did not see it on television and the referee did not have the benefit of television.”
Barcelona coach Rijkaard raced on to the pitch to confront referee Farina at the end of teh game and had to be restrained by captain Carles Puyol.
But he said: “He blew up one minute before he should have done but I’m not blaming that for the result.
“It was a battle on the pitch and it was very interesting during the game and I went on because I wanted to thank the referee for his participation.”
