Samuel Eto'o has apologised to Liverpool's Jordan Henderson for his challenge on the England midfielder during Chelsea's win on Sunday. The Cameroon superstar bagged the winning goal at Stamford Bridge, but some of his other contributions dominated the headlines post-match. As well as his clash with Henderson, Eto'o also clashed with Luis Suarez and was seemingly fortunate not to concede a late penalty - whilst he also swapped shirts with Mamadou Sakho at half-time. Asked about his challenge on Henderson, Eto'o told The Sun: "Maybe I should have been sent off. "But I'm not the referee. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but we must respect decisions from the officials. "During the match in the first moments, the game was passionate on both sides, but people know I'm not violent. I was really sad to see Jordan on the floor - I want to take this opportunity to say sorry. "There are days where I'm the one who gets kicked - it's football and can happen unfortunately. "But my only intention was to defend and prevent my team from conceding a goal, nothing else. It wasn't to take out an opponent." However, Eto'o was less than convinced his tackle on Suarez merited a penalty. "The ref did his job. He was two metres from us," he reflected. "We can't all be the ref and it's easy for people to talk when they are far away. Yes, there was contact - but I didn't commit a foul." Webb He also defended referee Howard Webb, who has been criticised by some Liverpool fans for his performance. "He's not one of the best referees - he is the best in the world!" he insisted. "If this task was easy then we'd all be referees. He may be the best but remains human. Liverpool fans can complain but so can Chelsea supporters because there was a penalty on Eden Hazard. "That would have given us a comfortable 3-1 advantage and maybe we could have scored more goals at that point because it would have ruined Liverpool's confidence. "The ref did not influence the result." And Eto'o does not have any issues with his half-time shirt swapping with Sakho. "No matter about the emotions, football stays beautiful because, even after a fight, people can shake hands," he said. "Football gives emotion, there's no good moment to exchange shirts. When the emotion is there, you're not over-thinking it. "Sakho is a young brother and I was happy to get his shirt and I think he was happy to get mine. "Just because we changed shirts at half-time does not mean we're not fighting for our teams. "We're doing it with respect and Sakho was one of Liverpool's best players on Sunday - he fights for his club. "I don't understand why people are making a fuss about this. We should be able to shake hands during a game or help another player get up. "Even when you're at war against an enemy, you still need fair play." Eto'o also singled out team-mate Eden Hazard for another brilliant display against Liverpool. "What a fantastic player he is," he said. "He understands that the important games are played by big players with charisma. It's an honour to play by his side." ------------- Didnt the arrogant one say he'd done nothing wrong? Happy new year all
"He's not one of the best referees - he is the best in the world!" as soon as i read that ****e i stopped reading. be no ****ing surprise if he gets away with it now, although i no doubt he has been told what to say in some form, Chelsea got lucky and they know it.
Fair play to him for apologising but it doesn't help does it. Where's the man that matters apology? #webb
Nice apology and all but our grievance was never against him. All players foul occasionally. It's the ref who should mete out punishment
I think it was intentional a mourinho instruction to get one in early on a midfielder knowing Webb would never punish it
"But I'm not the referee. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but we must respect decisions from the officials." I'll remember this next time he's compaining about a 'dodgy' decision not going there way. this needs to be filed with Mourinho's claim of 'Protecting the game' or however else he put it acting like some self-righteous prick on a mission to rid the world of evil havign inflicted Drogba onto the Premier league in his first stint in charge at the Bridge. It's all very well coming out and apologising but that won't make the slightest difference to our points tally at the business end of the season will it!
I think Webb is as bent as butchers hook and has been for years, he's an ex copper too and we all know how low they can stoop after what they got up to before, during and after Hillsborough.
this is another mourinho ploy. E'tto "apologises" for the one dealt with by the ref as no more action is possible. The ref gave a free and no card for a red card rake... admit to it and you just mist get away with the clearly intentional attempted stamp the ref did nothing about and can be brought up by the video panel.. the one that the TV all highlighted as deliberate.... simple mourinho tactics really... get out in front of any possible review and make it look like you did no wrong and suarez dived (obviously didn't) while appearing to be totally honest by putting your hands up to the one that costs you nothing.. sorry i raked you from knee cap down buddy... but i did no wrong and your mate dived. I'll await the video panel please log in to view this image the angle from behind the goal shows Etto looking down trying to stamp down on suarez's foot..
Chav PR offensive, nothing more, imo. Does nothing to right any wrongs. If he genuinely meant it and was contrite then ok, but he was reckless against Hendo and deliberately fouled Gnasher (despite Mourinho's frankly offensive accusation), and he'd do it again if the circumstances warranted it.
So according to Eto'o you are now allowed to barge a player over in the box, in turn preventing them chase down the ball and its not any kind of foul? Must be one of those rules the FA added that revolve around Suarez being the route of all evil.
Has Webb apologised yet, or being a bent copper has he filed it away in a box that won't be discovered for 23 years?
look at the video his intent was far more than blocking off suarez. he was looking right where he stamped down. it was a clumsy attempt by a player who is past it to stamp on a younger better player... don't don't think the attempted elbow earlier by cahill was missed either. I've not forgotten mourinho sending out fat frank to break alonso's ankle either... cost the player 2 years of his career but still came out smelling of roses. mourinho's antics were found out in spain where all the crap he got up to every time barca were played all failed. Suarez was singled out by mourinho and all these comments are merely an attempt to brush it away... and try to get the press back on a diver tack... anything rather than call a spade a spade.
