adminKIEV. — Jose Mourinho’s erratic Chelsea team tackle Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine tonight knowing defeat would seriously complicate their chances of progressing from Champions League soccer Group G.
Chelsea eased some of the pressure on Mourinho by beating Aston Villa 2-0 in the English Premier League on Saturday, but go into today’s game on the back of a 2-1 defeat at his former club Porto in their previous group match.
The English champions have never previously lost consecutive group games, but ahead of a sapping run of six matches in 19 days, Mourinho knows how damaging another defeat could prove.
“Obviously you don’t need to lose and lose and lose, because then psychological issues are coming into the game,” said the Portuguese, whose side trail Dynamo and Porto by a point after two matches.
“In normal conditions, getting normal results – I’m not even saying win, win, win, win, but getting normal results: wins, draws, the odd defeat – then it’s a great month.”
The victory over Villa saw Chelsea bounce back from a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton in their previous game, but they remain 10 points off the pace in the Premier League.
Seeking to shake Chelsea from their recent torpor, Mourinho dropped Eden Hazard, last season’s stand-out player, as well as Gary Cahill and Nemanja Matic, and saw Diego Costa score on his return from a domestic ban.
Hazard eventually joined the fray in the 83rd minute, but Mourinho said that the Belgian winger can expect to remain on the bench until he demonstrates a willingness to up his defensive contribution.
With Branislav Ivanovic sidelined by a hamstring injury, Mourinho must decide whether to persevere with a reconfigured back line that saw Cesar Azpilicueta start at right-back against Villa, with close-season signing Baba Rahman on the opposite flank. — AFP.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu