A dressing room visit from Jose Mourinho was the “icing on the cake” for Bradford goalkeeper Ben Williams after the Bantams’ astounding 4-2 comeback win over Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday.
League One Bradford were 2-0 down in their fourth-round tie at Stamford Bridge after goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires for the Premier League leaders. However, a strike before half-time from Jon Stead followed by goals from Filipe Morais and Andy Halliday put the Bantams ahead before Mark Yeates confirmed their progress in injury time.
Mourinho admitted he was “ashamed” and “embarrassed” after the defeat, but he was still keen to congratulate the Bradford players after the match.
And for Williams, the humility shown by Mourinho added to what was already an incredible day.
“It was fantastic. The scenes, the look on everyone’s faces was amazing, something which will live long in the memory,” Williams told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.
“The fans were amazing and after that Mourinho came into the dressing room and shook everyone’s hand and congratulated us, that was a surreal moment as well.
“In he walked and the celebrations stopped. This figure waltzed into the dressing room. He was very classy, very humble, very respectful – it was the icing on the cake.”
Bradford looked to be heading out of the competition after conceding two first-half goals, but Williams believes the combination of sticking to their game plan and perhaps some complacency from Chelsea contributed to their comeback.
“Once you go 2-0 down it was a case of seeing it out and sticking to the game plan and the goal before half-time gave us a real lift,” he said.
“We had a way of playing and the boys executed that fantastically well. At 2-0 at home everything is in Chelsea’s favour, maybe there was an element of taking their foot off the gas.
“It’s the FA Cup – it’s a fantastic leveller and you have always got a chance if you remain in the game. Take nothing away from Bradford, the goals we scored were fantastic.”