Diego Costa scored the winning goal for the reigning English champions, netting his first for the club in seven games.
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Still, for all the possession they enjoyed, Chelsea were so blunt an attacking force for much of the game that it was hard to see this victory as signalling the swift climb up the table which many believe the champions of England are still capable of. “I do not think that is the reason we lost the game, but it certainly would have helped”.
“I played a very good game against Stoke but we didn’t get a good result”.
“But we could deal with the final 5 minutes, we could deal with that strain as a result of the strain was there”. If they played with five at the back I would have played with three at the back and used Kenedy as a left winger.
“They have got quality internationals all over their squad, so sometimes when you are playing the bigger teams away from home, you have to find a different dynamic which gives us an advantage”.
“But one of the teams that go up may also have a little bit of a collapse”.
“In the last four minutes you are thinking maybe we will score a goal in our own net in the last minute”.
A swift Blues break on the stroke of half time ended with Costa actually in the right place at the right time, but John Ruddy was on hand to divert the ball wide of the post. Every game that you don’t score goals, you have five kilos more.
The Portuguese boss added: “He’s working well, he’s a happy guy, he tries everything”.
“We didn’t deserve the heartbeat of the last four minutes”.
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.
“We should go recreation after recreation”, he stated.
But more is expected from Costa and the way he shot high over the bar after being picked out by Pedro’s cut-back was a sign of things to come. Mourinho said Costa had a tendency to be late recovering his position and be caught offside, and, indeed, Chelsea’s goal came from a quick free-kick from Cesc Fabregas that opened the space behind Norwich’s defence. Kurt Zouma hit the bar and Mourinho’s side looked in control.
All the talk at the half was about bringing on Loic Remy for the dismal Costa, but no changes were made by either side as the teams emerged for the second 45.
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Nathan Redmond produced the first shot on target when he drew a save from Asmir Begovic with a powerful drive from a tight angle, while Willian tested John Ruddy at the other end following a threatening run from Hazard.
