Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has publicly responded to Jose Mourinho and John Terry's comments about her in the 'Mourinho' Netflix documentary, defending her decision to treat Eden Hazard during a match in 2015. Carneiro, along with head physio Jon Fearn, raced onto the pitch in injury time to treat Hazard during Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Swansea City in August 2015, a move that infuriated then-manager Mourinho because it left Chelsea with nine players after Thibaut Courtois had been sent off.
Mourinho's Criticism and Terry's Claim
In the documentary, Mourinho described his medical staff as 'impulsive and naive' and said they did not 'understand the game'. He elaborated: 'I'm not a doctor, but my eyes know when a player is injured, and they know when a player is not injured. I knew that he was not injured, but the doctors went to the pitch, and in that moment we were left with nine players.'
Former Chelsea captain John Terry also claimed there was an unwritten rule among players that they would not be treated by physios during a game unless the injury was serious. 'Medically, he would say unless it's really, really bad, then they're not coming on,' Terry said. 'That was the understanding for us as players, the medical staff, everyone bought into that.'
Carneiro's Response
Carneiro, who left her position at Chelsea the following month and claimed constructive dismissal, which was settled at an employment tribunal, took to X to respond. She wrote: '11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money. We are bound by a medico-legal code of conduct.' She added: 'Genuinely it would be healthy for John Terry to learn the rules of the game. It's been long enough mate.'
Carneiro also clarified the sequence of events, stating: 'So IT IS really simple. Referee Michael Oliver called us on TWICE, player Eden Hazard requested medical assistance we then made eye contact from side line and he confirmed he needed medical assistance, TWICE. At that point my hands are bound as a medical professional.'
Impact and Aftermath
The incident led to Carneiro's departure from Chelsea and a subsequent legal settlement. Her response highlights the ongoing tension and differing perspectives on the events, with Carneiro emphasizing her professional obligations over team tactics. The documentary has reignited debate over the incident, with Carneiro's comments underscoring the medical staff's adherence to protocol.
