Chelsea won their second group stage match with a resounding scoreline in a much relief to Jose Mourinho and all Blues’ fans. We now sit in 3rd place while FC Schalke lead the group with 6 points out of 2 wins and Basel seat 2nd with 3 points they earned at Stamford Bridge in our first UCL match this season. Everyone played to their maximum ability and all Mourinho’s tactics and instructions ahead of the game were on display by the Blues. Ramires along with Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto’o were clearly the 3 best players on the field for us and they contributed well in numbers through goals and assists.
And Jose Mourinho was surely grateful with the display of his players and he claimed in a post-match press-conference that he has full confidence that they will advance from the group stage of the Champions League following the win. Let’s here Jose’s response after the match…
“I think we are going to qualify,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “Today’s result is important because if we don’t win we are under pressure. We have to control the situation and make points against Schalke and then beat Basel and Steaua.
“From the first minute it was very good. From the first minute we kept control of the game. We played good football with intelligence and maturity. We needed to clean what we did at home (against Basel) and we did it with a good result and performance. Now we are not in a dramatic situation, we are in a close situation.”
Now, let’s take a look at top 5 most important things we learned after this game and a few others more worth noting….
1. Andre Schurrle slowly cementing himself as a starter…
The German winger who seems never to run out of stamina dictated the whole 90 mins in his first start in the Champions League for the blues by delivering a top-notch performance. Mourinho said after the game that they wanted to attack down the left hand wings and he elected to start Schurrle there as Eden Hazard was out through injury for this game. And the 22 year old’s immense pace and strength were on display as he played a major role in the first TWO goals we scored before half time. Schurrle was again hugely influential as Chelsea made it 3-0. Georgievski was embarrassed once more by the former Bayer Leverkusen player on the touchline before Oscar, in his best moment of the game, was able to assist Ramires for his second goal of the night.
2. Man of the match was clearly Ramires despite Schurrle and Eto’o’s brilliance…
The Brazilian samba boy Ramires scored two goals by getting in to the box and lashing on to loose balls around the penalty area. And despite scoring the 2nd from a beautiful assist by Oscar, Ramires finished the first after the initial shot by Eto’o was blocked following a key role played by Schurrle as can be seen through the image above. Ramires also was covering a lot of spaces through out the match and really deserves to be accredited with the man of the match honor for that reason.
3. Samuel Eto’o is doing everything right and the goals will eventually come…
The Cameroonian striker came on for Fernando Torres who limped off early into the game through a reported knee injury even though the results aren’t confirmed at the moment. Eto’o’s move off the ball and his great link up with players behind him will surely make him favored ahead of Ba when Torres isn’t available. Not only that but, we shouldn’t be surprised if Mourinho puts the Spaniard on the bench and start Eto’o as he is dangerous to the opposition in a lot of ways than Torres this season so far even though we haven’t seen a goal after some appearances so far. But, we should be patient and wait until the goal he desperately needs comes and it won’t be far away. What we saw from Eto’o in this game is his willingness to contribute to the team whether he ends up scoring or not. He played a major part in 3 of our goals as his shot was blocked and got turned into the net by Ramires. Another one was saved by the keeper but, rebounded of a defender and went in for an own goal. And the final goal for the Blues on the night where Lampard scored the goal had an amazing dribble by Eto’o down the left wing and a delightful cross to Willian who set up Lampard for the goal.
4. Fernando Torres is in a tough situation and he must work his back into the team…
The Spaniard striker had a roller coaster day as the FA had put out statement that he won’t be getting any more disciplinary actions against him and on the negative side, he started the game ahead of Eto’o and limped off in the 11th minute through an injury to the knee as Jose said in his post match comments. Torres won’t be available until he finishes serving a ban following the red card against Spurs last weekend in domestic competitions. It’s a good thing that he escaped a lengthy ban and we hope the injury is nothing serious like the Van Ginkel one. But, El Nino would surely have to keep working hard in a positive mood to unseat Eto’o as the preferred striker in his return. He knows he will be the favorite for Jose if he delivers the same performance like he did against Bayern in the super cup which was totally superb!
5. Our defense is master-class at the moment following Jose Mourinho’s return this season…
Compare this 4-0 win against the 1-0 defeat last season to the same opposition in the same stadium. We had Terry and Luiz as the center backs in that game and Azpilicueta and Bertrand on the full back spots. Despite fielding the experienced veterans Ivanovic and Cole in those positions, the defense almost looks the same. But, what has happened really is that Jose Mourinho is back at the dug out instead of Rafa Benitez in that game we lost in the Europa league away. This is a great news and serves as a huge relief and confidence to all Chelsea fans as our defense is looking invincible after even holding off Pep Gardiola’s Bayern Munich to a draw till penalties in extra time in August with this same back line we played in. #InJoseWeTrust
Other things we learned….
6. Juan Mata is improving his weaknesses stated by Mou recently and will be in contention to earn his favored position back!
7. Mata and Oscar has proved they can play together and we might see MAZACAR behind the striker soon when Hazard is back!
8. Veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard aren’t looking as if they will slow down any time soon and the Legends keep the pace up game by game through amazing performances!
Here are the most important and small lessons we learned from this game that put a big smile across every Chelsea fan and let us know what you think and few things you learned as well. Thanks for reading and follow me on twitter (@FahmiCFC) for more things about Chelsea! KTBFFH
Great Article. Mourinho’s pressure on the players spoke on the pitch. I hope they can keep that pace within them. KTBFFH
EXACTLY, his pressure on the players spoke on the pitch and the fight to get in the 11 starters will benefit the team. Hazard, kevin and William know that they have to work hard.
Chelsea now seat 2nd not 3rd pls goal.com
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Nope 3rd as it go by head to head games if teams are level on points
We lost to them last season through a penalty, we didn’t play badly either just missed chances to score.
jst Look at Them…no Benitez & Mourinho Comparison..no Complain abt Line-up…no this & that…typical Plastic & Pathetic Fans, Glory hunters…steaua Fans..were still singing & supporting d team even when loosing in their own grown,…how many Chelsea fans will do that if not Abusing of Players & calling Mourinho Names… When will u pple grow up or better Still fuck out..admin included.
What’s wrong with you?
Good job by bluez boys, kip up mou………………….
I told you chelsea will only get better.
Don’t be such a bitter person like Chelsea is your club only. Most of us love the Club and the team so it’s natural when people disagree on certain things. Get your head straight buddy.
On another note,this section take forever to be published. It use to be online shortly after a game has finished.
Depends on who’s writing it and when they submit it
This is what i like 2 see in chelsea fans if we lose or win let keep on supporting the team nd pray 4 our striker because something is wrong some were let stop blaming coach all the time sometime players dont do there job that is why we lose sometime more good news 2 come chelsea 4 life thank you all
First of all, this is the most impressive performance so far this season, we were efficient and ruthless. Mata got us ticking the right way, creating chances, recycling possession and defending.
Schurrle played really well down the left flank, he is obviously better down the left, cutting unto his stronger right foot to either shoot or make a delicious diagonal pass, he needs to work on his finishing though.
4-3-3 served us well against Steaua really well and it would be an ideal formation for the present crop of players we have.
——————–Cech—————
Ivanovic——Luiz——Terry—-Cole-
——————Mikel—————–
—-Ramires————Oscar———-
Mata———–Torres———Hazard—–
——————Schwarzer————-
Azpilicueta–Ake/Kalas–Cahill-Bertrand
——————Essien——————-
—Lampard————Kevin De Bruyne–
Willian———-Eto’o———Schurrle—-
This formation can serve us well.
Ramires is best in the centre, in order to put his driving runs into efficient use. He has lots of goals in him.
Ivan is too good. Luiz is forming a beautiful understand between Terry and Cahill. Lampard actually impressed me against Steaua, and he has scored 2 goals in 10 games, a fair return for a 35 years old midfielder.
More of such games Boys.
Good display by the boys there. I think there should approach the games tactically and ruthlessly on opponents as they did. No Kg affair…just tap in the goals.. no stopping.
I don’t like listening to these “MAZARCAR” sentiments. CFC’s full of talents e.g Shürrle on the pitch & a host of others who love to put in their best performances. Some fans keep talking like there’s only three attacking midfielders in Chelsea fc. Mou will choose whosoever he considers well enough for any game. And don’t forget, loosing is part of the process till we have a formidable team at the top of the list. Bayern didn’t give up on their style… so CFC shouldn’t give up on the manager until he arrives safely …
great article! feel that lampard though is losing his edge especially throughout the beginning of this season. cant see him starting our bigger matches anymore =)
Schurrle & ramires just amazing, love them as a #CFCFan