“There are no doubts about the victory and the three points but Maccabi deserved something more than they got”.
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Despite now topping Group G, Chelsea are yet to qualify for the knockout stage because of Dynamo Kiev’s shock victory in Porto.
Costa, who ended a six-game run without scoring against Norwich on Saturday, completed 90 minutes in Israel.
But the match was not without incident, as Mourinho complained strongly about the state of the playing surface and was involved in a confrontation with one of his own players as the teams went in at half-time. “We are OK”, says Mourinho.
“But I don’t believe too much that he can play (against Spurs)”. He did too. At half-time in the dressing room, a few kisses and a few cuddles.
The extent of the injury was not initially known, but Mourinho looked anxious and suggested that Terry might not be available to play against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday. “I hope morale comes, tranquility comes, confidence comes”.
The club, and Mourinho – have been criticised recently, but Zouma was quick to stress how brilliant the Chelsea fans have been through this hard time for the club.
He said: “I think after what I did, I think it was worse”.
“I know – and also Chelsea – we know that sometimes you win when you are not the favourites”, he told reporters.
Jokanovic added “We conceded 11 goals and scored only one”.
He said: “I said in an interview before the match that such a attractive stadium and such a fantastic public deserve a better surface because it was bad and risky”.
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A truer test of their resurgence will come at White Hart Lane, though, where Chelsea lost 5-3 on New Year’s Day. “I even have a player that tomorrow his wife can have a baby and he is here to play because he knows how important it is for me”. “Let’s see match after match what we think is the best for him it depends on what we want for the game”. “No problem”, said Mourinho.
