Chelsea’s opening goal arrived in fortuitous circumstances on 12 minutes when a Diego Costa shot was saved by Iker Casillas before striking Marcano and trickling into the Porto net.
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Dynamo Kiev are two points behind Chelsea and Porto and if the Ukrainian club fail to beat winless Maccabi Tel Aviv, Mourinho’s men would qualify even if they lose to Porto.
Although relieved to steer Chelsea through the group stage of the Champions League, Jose Mourinho believes his team will not be feared in the last 16 during this unexpectedly poor season for the club. The worrying aspect that night was that it was quite a comprehensive defeat, but they have responded well domestically, recording their fourth Primeira Liga win in succession against Pacos Ferreira on Saturday to remain two points off leaders Sporting Lisbon. However, Maicon secured the 2-1 win for Porto early in the second.
Chelsea, who are 14th in the Premier League with only four wins from 15 matches, are likely to have captain John Terry back after injury.
England will have three representatives in the last 16 of the Champions League after Chelsea and Arsenal eased through to the knockout phase.
Zenit St Petersburg had already topped Group H and they were joined in the next stage by tournament debutants Gent, which beat the Russians 2-1.
It is far from job done for Jose Mourinho, though.
“While mathematically it’s still possible, we will fight for every game and see if it’s possible to finish in the top four”, he added.
“It is clear (Costa is struggling for confidence), but it is also clear to see his effort, commitment and great movement which he didn’t have in the last couple of months”, Mourinho said. I know the wind of results is an important wind and I know this wind is really strong because the results in the Premier League are really bad.
Of his recent trials and tribulations, he said: “I think it makes me better”.
Hazard received from Costa near the left touchline before surging across the edge of the penalty area and feeding the onrushing Willian to blast low into the bottom right hand side of the goal.
Costa justified his selection with a passionate performance up front and played a key role in tonight’s triumph.
“But because the rules say third in the group goes into the Europa League, it is a good way for teams knocked out of the Champions League to win the competition and be back in the Champions League next season”.
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Any other manager would have gone, there are no two ways about it. Mourinho is only still there, purely and simply, for what he’s done in the past.
