Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said that his side coped well with the pressure of their recent bad results to secure a 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Stamford Bridge.
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The Blues desperately need to get back on winning terms after suffering defeat at Stoke City before the global break.
Mourinho will undoubtedly take heart from all that ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League journey to Israel to play Maccabi Tel Aviv, but he will still be concerned by the fact that all of Chelsea’s possession and creativity did not produce the bag full of goals it should have. “So, I think, we should go together, me and the players”. Mourinho also insisted that just as he retains every confidence in the players that won him the title, he can still count on the full support of owner Roman Abramovich. They did, though, and we can all spend the rest of our Saturday in a good mood, as a result. We have four months without the national team and four months with the three most lovely competitions to play.
Indeed, Chelsea’s W3-D2-L7 record through the course of their first 12 league fixtures leaves them one point behind Norwich in 16 in the league table and it is worth noting that the Canaries posted a W4-D1-L1 record through the course of their first six Premier League meetings with the Stamford Bridge club. “I’m saying I won’t ask the club to do it”, he said.
“If I ask for players, or if the club gives me a handful of players, it’s like taking a bit the responsibility from us and saying we need extra to reach our objectives”.
“And, again, we were champions four months ago”.
“We believe in ourselves, we trust ourselves”.
“With regards to the pressure and easing it I don’t think that changes too much. Lots of matches. The situation is good in the squad”.
Asked what he meant by not having the “right”, Mourinho added: “Because our performance during the season in the Premier League is not good enough. To get that back you get it only by results”, he said.
“It is the other coach (Steve Holland) who took charge and at half-time they spoke by messaging – they swapped text messages or they called each other I think”, revealed Zouma.
“They were the top team in the country a year ago, but we just have to hope that slump continues so we can get something out of the match”. The only thing we didn’t do was score more from the chances we had.
Chelsea continued to dominate in search of the opening goal but Ruddy was on hand them to deny them, as he pulled off a fine save to keep out Willian’s effort from close range.
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Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (knee) and striker Radamel Falcao (undisclosed) are nearing returns from injury, but Mourinho declined to say when the pair would be back.
