Just for you Coops...
Dear Sunderland supporter,
The referee told me not to come out to the dug-out in the second half - so I don't know if it was a sending off.
I was disappointed with the third goal, I thought it was a foul on Pascal Chimbonda in the build-up and that was a hammer-blow. I'm not saying that we would have come back and won 3-2, but it was a difficult one.
When you are playing against one of the big teams, all you want is a bit of fairness and we did not get that today.
Chelsea were outstanding and there is no shame in losing to a top team like that. I thought my players kept going. When you are 5-0 down with 35 minutes to go and Drogba is warming up you think, 'I wish someone would fast-forward the clock'.
I've never had a problem in my career praising the opposition and I'm quite happy doing that today.
Could we have played better? Yes. Could we have avoided one or two of the goals? Yes. But that's football, players make mistakes.
When you are chasing the ball for a long time you get tired, physically and mentally, and you make mistakes.
I started with Martyn Waghorn up front because he is a really good player. He must love me! He got his first start against [Manchester] United and his second against Chelsea.
These young players have earned the right to play for Sunderland, one hundred per cent. I thought Waggy did well in the first half. The way we performed at
Stoke, I thought today was an ideal opportunity to get them [the young players] involved. They will be the better for it.
I know what Chelsea are all about, I've played against some of these players, I fancy them to win the league.
We went with the two up front but I don't think any system today would have worked, we were up against a top, top team. They are class players. We always take responsibility for defeat, no one more so than myself and I will do that.
They have got good movement, good pace and that's why they are playing for Chelsea and that's why they will be winning titles and European cups over the next few years.
I've played for managers who are quite happy throwing young players in and I was comfortable with it today.
I wouldn't say I'm happy, but I'm not as angry as after the Stoke game. I'm very relaxed, it's been a tough start to the season, Chelsea would beat most teams coming here.
There's no shame in losing here. I'll sleep quite well tonight.
Thanks for your support,