Argentina’s Sergio Romero was handed a Premier League debut with an own goal by Tottenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker giving Manchester United a 1-0 victory in an undistinguished season opener at Old Trafford.
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Swansea who had been targeting Chelsea’s right side where Montero was pace was wreaking havoc for the Chelsea defence whipped in a cross that Gomis met with venom but Courtois was equal to it. The rebound fell to Andre Ayew, who turned in a shot from close range after Cahill blocked Ayew’s first attempt. “It was a surprise for me he did not play on the weekend”. When we came here last year we did well for 45 minutes but today we were excellent for 90. He’s such an important player for us.
In what was an entertaining match, both sides played an attacking brand of football and even at the death could never be accused of settling for a point. Being a man down, Chelsea would play the remainder of the game in a very cautious manner.
Mourinho has stuck by his policy of operating with a squad who include just three strikers, with Radamel Falcao arriving on loan from Monaco to join Loic Remy as back-up. Gomis sprinted through, only to be clattered by Courtois just as he broke into the penalty area. I don’t know yet.
“In our first game – at the home of the champions – we got on the front foot and reacted well to going behind”.
“So obviously I cannot say I don’t need him but I don’t like to speak about injured players”. If we don’t have Diego Costa I am all of a sudden anxious. That is not the Garry Monk way, though, and he put out a team that was far more ambitious or expansive than many would have chosen.
“So let’s start strong this season and I believe we have the needed ingredients”.
Denying a scoring chance as the last player meant a red card for the Chelsea keeper, although his captain John Terry was booked for protesting.
At the other end of the table, Sky Bet eased Watford to 8/11 for the drop after they fought out a 2-2 draw with Everton, whereas Norwich were cut to 4/5 following their 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace. Mourinho went on to explain that he doesn’t think the 5-0 thrashing of Swansea in January will have any effect on performances tomorrow. “We set the team up to be offensive”.
“Of course there were periods when we had to defend well, but you’d expect that at a place like this against a really good team”.
The title holders landed the first blow as Oscar scored from a direct freekick but not before Swansea had a few good chances of their own.
Mourinho also moved to explain why he was so animated late in the game when Eden Hazard had to leave the field – leaving Chelsea with nine men temporarily – after receiving treatment.
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But asked if homegrown youngsters, such as Loftus-Cheek, feature in his plans for the upcoming season, Mourinho said: “It depends on him not on me”.
