Jose Mourinho strangely described the defeat to Sunderland as the "highlight" of his first season back at Chelsea as he again hinted at where he felt his team's Barclays Premier League title chances had been extinguished.
Mourinho was fined £10,000 on Thursday for his sarcastic appraisal of officials following the loss to the Black Cats, and also failed in an appeal against an £8,000 penalty imposed after the defeat at Aston Villa.
Asked his standout moment of the campaign, he chose the penalty awarded by Mike Dean and converted by Fabio Borini which earned Sunderland a 2-1 win on April 19 and ended Mourinho's 77-match unbeaten home league run.
"This season I lost a match at Stamford Bridge for the first time," Mourinho said.
"I lost with the second goal (against Sunderland) and for me that's the highlight."
Mourinho declined to comment fully on Football Association matters - his disciplinary sanctions or the findings of Greg Dyke's commission - but insisted he was happy to be back after a near six-year absence, despite his disciplinary troubles.
"I like to be back," Mourinho added.
"I don't enjoy defeats, but I have to say that to lose at Crystal Palace is English football.
"To lose like we did against Sunderland or Aston Villa is not English football and I like English football, I don't like what isn't English football."
Mourinho, who will provide a report to the Chelsea hierarchy at the end of the campaign, was unable to provide an update on the futures of captain John Terry, record goalscorer Frank Lampard and left-back Ashley Cole, three figures central to the club's success over eight years and more.
Asked if Sunday's match at Cardiff would be the trio's final games for Chelsea, Mourinho said: "I don't know. But I don't think so. The club knows my opinion. The players know my opinion too."
It is possible Lampard, who is 36 in June, may have played his final match for Chelsea already.
"Frank Lampard is ill, he is in bed," Mourinho said.
Asked to reflect on Lampard's distinguished career at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho added: "Maybe in a few years he will have a statue where Peter Osgood is. He's one of the biggest players (in the history) of this club."
Striker Samuel Eto'o was injured in training and Terry has suffered a knock and both could also have played their final games of the season.
Terry is in negotiations with the club and it is likely that after a formidable season he will be retained.
Cole's future, after limited action this term, is looking more likely to be away from Stamford Bridge.
Source: PA
