Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gave his side a mark of “minus one out of 10” for their first-half performance in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle.
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“We worked as a team, that is the key in this league”. They failed to take it and have been plunged back into chaos.
The Blues rode their luck at Newcastle on Saturday after a dismal first-half performance at St James’ Park before recovering to gain a 2-2 draw.
The Brazilian attacker had been forced to sit out of recent wins over Arsenal and Walsall but Mourinho says he’s now fit and available for selection for tomorrow nights trip to Newcastle. There were six players I could have taken off. I wanted to make six substitutions. We played really good football like a team. It’s bad for them because if they play like this, they win many matches at home, and they don’t.
Ramirez produced a brilliant shot into the top corner and four minutes from time Willian’s free-kick, looking for a header, flew straight in. He then distracted Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul sufficiently to enable Willian’s free kick to find a way past the custodian in the 86th minute.
“They [Ramires and Willian] brought the team to another level. I don’t believe we are always going to play like we did in the first half or like we did in the second half“. The amusing thing is Newcastle have a good record against Chelsea and beat them a year ago to end their unbeaten start to the season.
“Manchester City is another tough game”, he said. We have done the work, and we have to do that against every team.
Newcastle’s spirited showing was a welcome tonic after a hard few weeks on Tyneside. Newcastle United fans were celebrating their would-be first victory in the campaign.
McClaren’s side crashed to their fourth successive defeat in midweek when they were dumped out of the League Cup by second tier Sheffield Wednesday. I put it down to terrible individual performances. I want to try to understand because I don’t accept it.
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“That’s the standard we set”.
