Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that Chelsea created less chances in the game that saw his side come off stronger in the second half.
The Portuguese was handed his second straight home defeat, thanks to Jorginho’s penalty in the 24th minute after Eric Dier brought down Timo Werner in the box.
It was Mourinho’s first back-to-back home defeat of his managerial career but the 57-year-old insist he was pleased with his team’s improved second half performance on the night, despite being downed by ‘painful’ penalty.
Mourinho, who singled out his half-time substitutes, Lucas and Lamela for praises, that Chelsea had to rely on Jorginho’s spotkick to save the day.
He said: “It was a bit of a struggle but how many chances did they have? The penalty? The struggling, it is what it is.
“We didn’t have the ball, correct. We didn’t create in the first half, correct. But the struggle is the penalty. In the end, it’s a penalty that decides the game.
“In the end they score a penalty which is not a penalty that you say is a dangerous situation, one on one, almost scoring. With a penalty like this it’s a bit painful.
“I think the feeling is that we did stick together to the end and that is probably a positive thing that we take because tomorrow we have to train and Sunday we have to train. To finish the game with this positive spirit helps.
“It was difficult, yes, but no chances, and then in the second half I think it was much more difficult for them.
“We pressed them much better, much higher, we brought a different spirit to the game in the second half and I believe that we deserved a little bit more.”
Despite making three substitutions on the night, Mourinho did not introduce winger Gareth Bale.
The 31-year-old Welshman was seen warming up on the touchline during the encounter but was confined to the bench as the game ended 1 – 0.
When asked why he had chosen to keep Bale on the bench, Mourinho said to journalist Alison Bender “You don’t deserve an answer.”
He said in his post-match press conference: “Good question, but you don’t deserve an answer.” He said in his post-match press conference: “Good question, but you don’t deserve an answer.”
“I am doing my best, he is doing his best. Everybody is doing their best.”
The Portuguese boss started Carlos Vinicius up top in Harry Kane’s absence against Chelsea after the on-loan Bale made just his second Premier League start versus Brighton.
Bale struggled to make an impact in the 1-0 loss to the Seagulls and was hauled off after an hour.
Spurs have now dropped to eighth position on the table, three points adrift Chelsea, who are sixth and one game ahead of their London rivals.
