The Chelsea manager conceded the champions’ title defence was over after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday, just a fourth win from 13 games this season, but he reckons Uefa Champions League qualification for next season is achievable. Eden Hazard gave his best display for a few time while Pedro Rodriguez added a little extra dynamism going forward on his return to the starting line-up, but they lacked a focal point as Diego Costa proved ineffective as the lone striker. But if we had got a penalty in the first half, like we should have done, and we do not switch off for the goal they scored, then it could have been a very different result. The fact is we switched off at a free-kick that we had given away and we did not get back into our shape quickly enough, which cost us.
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The Blues are also coming off a 1-0 defeat suffered against Stoke City in their last Premier League outing.
Norwich come to the Bridge with more than a glimmer of hope, with Alex Neil’s team now above Chelsea in the league table.
Wrapped inside this clever comment was a vote of confidence and a warning to manager and players to earn that “trust”.
The manager is now working to halt his side’s alarming decline this season just months after they were crowned champions in May. The power is with the board and they have shown to me and the players that they trust us. Norwich may feel aggrieved not to have a penalty in the first half as Robbie Brady was bundled over seemingly by Willian but nothing given.
And prior to that, Costa failed to read Hazard’s intentions when the midfielder sent a low ball across the face of goal, waiting instead for a pull-back on the edge of the box. Mourinho turned to someone on the Chelsea benches and shook his head slowly and repeatedly to convey exasperation. Kenedy, the young Brazilian, was given a start at left back and immediately influenced things with his attacking runs and Willian was his usual active, unpredictable self. “I think we deserved to be enjoying the last four minutes with a two, three or 4-0 result, relaxed. But, in the last week, if every name connected to us was true we’d have to build another training centre because there are already 126 (players linked)”.
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“We have to make it as hard as we can for them and try to implement our style on the game, to test them and see how they respond”.
