Mourinho hails Blues after early 'knifing'
metro
Jose Mourinho hails Chelsea after early Southampton knifing
Jose Mourinho admitted Southamptons 13-second goal against Chelsea was like a knife in our back but praised the way his players recovered to move to within four points of league leaders Arsenal.
After Jay Rodriguezs opening goal, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Demba Ba scored in the second half as Mourinhos unbeaten Premier League home record was extended to 67 games.
The result was all the more significant after Liverpool lost at Hull and Manchester United and Tottenham drew at White Hart Lane.
The goal was like a knife in our back by surprise you are losing 1-0, he said.
[But] in the first half we played very well. We played with balance, we played calm, no panic, no silly decisions, no mistakes, not going from 1-0 to 2-0, not risking a lot. That was a sign of maturity.
We deserved the three points in a match which was a must-win for us. We knew that three title contenders lost points before us, so it was important for us to win this game.
Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted the early goal had an impact on Southamptons approach and rued the concession of two goals from set-pieces.
Its clear the game changed when we scored that goal so early on, he said.
We competed well and even up to them getting even, that was our best spell during because we were attacking.
Then we conceded two goals from set-pieces. Thats a mistake. They were soft goals we shouldnt have conceded.
Artur Boruc had done well to deny Chelsea, but the goalkeeper departed after Cahills equaliser and went to hospital for X-rays on his hand and wrist.
After a first defeat in nine games at Arsenal, Saints have now lost to two of the title contenders who Pochettino says cannot be split.
Theyre clearly two teams that are going to be in the fighting to win the league, Pochettino said.
Both teams have their strengths, have their weapons to inflict a lot of danger to their opposition.
Jose Mourinho admitted Southamptons 13-second goal against Chelsea was like a knife in our back but praised the way his players recovered to move to within four points of league leaders Arsenal.
After Jay Rodriguezs opening goal, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Demba Ba scored in the second half as Mourinhos unbeaten Premier League home record was extended to 67 games.
The result was all the more significant after Liverpool lost at Hull and Manchester United and Tottenham drew at White Hart Lane.
The goal was like a knife in our back by surprise you are losing 1-0, he said.
[But] in the first half we played very well. We played with balance, we played calm, no panic, no silly decisions, no mistakes, not going from 1-0 to 2-0, not risking a lot. That was a sign of maturity.
We deserved the three points in a match which was a must-win for us. We knew that three title contenders lost points before us, so it was important for us to win this game.
Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted the early goal had an impact on Southamptons approach and rued the concession of two goals from set-pieces.
Its clear the game changed when we scored that goal so early on, he said.
We competed well and even up to them getting even, that was our best spell during because we were attacking.
Then we conceded two goals from set-pieces. Thats a mistake. They were soft goals we shouldnt have conceded.
Artur Boruc had done well to deny Chelsea, but the goalkeeper departed after Cahills equaliser and went to hospital for X-rays on his hand and wrist.
After a first defeat in nine games at Arsenal, Saints have now lost to two of the title contenders who Pochettino says cannot be split.
Theyre clearly two teams that are going to be in the fighting to win the league, Pochettino said.
Both teams have their strengths, have their weapons to inflict a lot of danger to their opposition.
