Jose Mourinho was able to reflect on a good response to the
weekend defeat at Newcastle, as the Champions League campaign stayed on course
with a second 3-0 win over Schalke in the group stage.
The Blues are three points clear at the top of our group
thanks to two goals from Samuel Eto'o and one from Demba Ba, allied to a
defensive display at Stamford Bridge that was strong after the opening minutes.
Mourinho, as he announced was certain in the wake of the St
James' Park setback, made six changes to the side, but he downplayed his action
speaking after Wednesday night's win…
'It was nothing to do with dropping this player or that
player, it was to do with the team's mentality, and they were strong,' he said.
'We started a bit nervous and made a lot of mistakes. We
lost a lot of balls in dangerous positions and we allowed Schalke to
counter-attack with some danger. They had two good situations but after that
our team recovered the balance and we controlled the game.
'We had comfortable possession, recovering the ball and
playing in an aggressive way, attacking the spaces with two, three or four
players. When we lost the ball we were aggressive the way we pressed and the
way we defended.
'Our three guys behind the striker - Schurrle, Oscar and
Willian - were very strong when the team lost the ball, very strong recovering
positions and when the team was winning the ball, they were very strong
attacking spaces with good pace. We won in quite a comfortable way.
'The Basel defeat put us in a difficult situation and it is
fantastic that after the fourth fixture we are almost qualified.'
On whether Samuel Eto'o is one of his favourite players…
'My favourite players are the players that win matches for me,
not the ones that lose matches for me, and Samuel worked with me in the best
season of my career when we won everything [at Inter], so he is in a good
position.
'He was for two years at Anzhi playing without big
motivation and you lose condition, sharpness and even appetite. It was not a
surprise for me that he arrived here not in the best condition. Now step by
step he is coming. He is 32 but he is a naturally fit, slim guy and goals give
confidence. The second goal is a very good collective goal. Willian's choice of
pass was fantastic, Ramires's run to give an extra option to Willian was
fantastic and Samuel's movement was brilliant.'
Mourinho was asked to confirm if Eden Hazard was left out of
the game due to missing a training session…
'I don't want to lie, he is not injured,' said the manager.
'He is a kid and kids make mistakes and fathers, they have to be clever in the
way they educate their sons. He didn't play, he wanted to play, he is sad
because he didn't play, we won without him and Saturday he is back, end of
story.'
On Fernando Torres's abductor muscle injury that meant he
missed this game…
'We hope that he is back after the international games but
of course no chance for this weekend. 'And still a doubt to be back after that.
It is not the biggest one but it is two or three weeks for a muscular injury.'
Schalke manager Jens Keller was understandably regretful
over the mistake by his goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand that led to the opening
goal…
'We started really well and had three chances,' he said.
'Tactically we did well but you have to use one of those chances and when we
conceded the first goal it was a huge mistake and then Chelsea could play as
they wanted. After half-time Cech saved very well and it was extra class by
Eto'o and the way they worked the second goal. At 2-0 down against a team like
Chelsea it is very difficult to come back.'
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