Jose Mourinho relieved after 'difficult' victory

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hailed a victory he felt meant "more than just the three points" after his side saw off Stoke 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium to secure the Barclays Premier League Christmas number one spot.

In a fixture that had looked a tricky prospect but which they controlled admirably, the Blues went 1-0 up in the second minute through John Terry's header before wrapping up the win via Cesc Fabregas' scuffed effort with 12 minutes remaining.

Things got feisty at times, but Chelsea coped well when Stoke got physical.

And the Portuguese, whose table-toppers will spend Christmas three points clear of second-placed Manchester City, said: "To win here, we had to play a very good game.

"We did it because we adapted well to their style of play. When they had the ball, we adapted well to them. When we had the ball, we tried not to lose our identity.

"Obviously to score a goal at the beginning is important, but not so much in this stadium because Stoke are always strong and the crowd is always behind them. The team are mentally strong, they believe and they have good players.

"So it was a very difficult victory. It is a victory that means a bit more than just the three points, because to win here, you need to show more than just your quality.

"The players coped well - our creative players were not afraid to try to create, and our defensive players were very solid.

"Only with a great team performance is it possible to be successful against Stoke."

One particular moment of physicality came early on when Stoke defender Phil Bardsley put in a rash tackle on Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, the Potters man appearing perhaps somewhat lucky to only be punished with a yellow card.

Mourinho suggested Bardsley should have been sent off, but stressed he felt the match overall, while "aggressive", had been fair.

He said: "From my position, it looked like a red card, but I don't know.

"What I know is that if it was a bad tackle, it was the only one - the game was clean. It was aggressive, but good - the referee kept it under control and the players were fair.

"There were good fights, physicality, lots of duels, but I think the game was perfectly clean and correct.

"So if it was a red card, it was an isolated action."

Mouriho felt Hazard, who set up Fabregas' goal, had been "fantastic" and added: "There was one action that showed clearly for me what he (Hazard) is.

"Bardsley was injured and Eden, a few minutes after being tackled that way, is the one who puts the ball out. I wouldn't do it to a guy who kicked me a few minutes before!"

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Jose Mourinho relieved after 'difficult' victory

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2014/12/jose-mourinho-relieved-after-difficult.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Jose Mourinho relieved after 'difficult' victory

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Jose Mourinho relieved after 'difficult' victory

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy