Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho expressed his belief that referees are being put under excessive pressure when speaking to the media for the first time since being hit by a Football Association misconduct charge.
Last week, the Portuguese was charged for comments made about match officials following the Blues' 1-1 draw at Southampton on December 28.
Mourinho claimed there was a "clear campaign" by "people, pundits, commentators and coaches from other teams" against Chelsea and labelled Cesc Fabregas' booking for diving at St Mary's a "scandal".
Those comments means the Blues boss is facing possible disciplinary action and led him to withdraw from routine press activity before and after last weekend's match against Newcastle.
"Now I am in conditions to control myself and one week ago I couldn't," Mourinho explained upon resuming his press responsibilities ahead of today's trip to Swansea.
"It would have put myself under bigger problems, so now I can smile and control my words. We're not against the referees. We understand the job is not an easy one.
"I am happy to admit my mistakes, so when I spoke with Kevin Friend (after the FA Cup game against Watford) and realised that it was my mistake and not his mistake, I was more than happy to apologise, so there are no problems.
"But the reality is that every decision is going against us and the results were affected by that. But far from us - very far from us - to put any doubt about the honesty of the people."
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