Mourinho on an even keel
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is targeting victory in Champions League Group E after a Fernando Torres double helped secure a 3-0 win at Schalke.
After beginning the campaign with a surprise home loss to Basle, Chelsea now lead the pool following wins at Steaua Bucharest and Schalke ahead of the return match with the Germans at Stamford Bridge on November 6.
“After the first game we were last, because we lost at home, and now we are top of the group,” said Mourinho, following the win in Gelsenkirchen.
“Because of my experience I was not in hell after the first game and I’m not in heaven today. I’m calm.
“I know we have two matches at home (to come) and I know normally we are going to get enough points to qualify.
“In this moment, after six points, we can think first about qualifying, but after that, maybe, we can also think about finishing first in the group. That is what we are going to try (to do).
“We were under pressure after the first game, after the second game we found a balance and today, after this victory, we are in a good situation.”
Torres was preferred to Samuel Eto’o to make his 100th Chelsea start and netted his 38th and 39th goals for the Blues following his £50m move from Liverpool before Eden Hazard added a late third.
The World Cup-winning striker has been much-maligned, mainly due to his hefty price tag, but Mourinho has belief in the ability of the Spaniard and was pleased to see his selection justified.
“What boosts him is the confidence he knows I have in him,” Mourinho said.
“Samuel played a very good game against Cardiff and scored the winning goal.
“I thought Fernando was adapted to this game. I put faith in him and he answered well.
“It’s good for him, it’s a good feeling to score goals, winning goals in the Champions League.”
Mourinho also announced that he does not plan to contest the Football Association’s charge of improper conduct following his dismissal against Cardiff.
The Portuguese was sent to the stands by referee Anthony Taylor during the Blues’ controversial 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge and was on Monday hit with the charge and given three days to respond.
Mourinho insisted he will accept his punishment, which is expected to be a fine, after reading the referee’s report.
The Chelsea boss said: “What the referee wrote is true. I was not aggressive, I was not offensive. I just had a disagreement.
“That in the game is resolved with ’shut up and sit down’, (you) don’t need to go to the stands.
“I accept the fine and against Manchester City (on Sunday) I can work.”
