Lady luck finally smiles on Mourinho as Blues find form

IF this was Jose Mourinho’s last stand, the final whimpers of an ending empire, it certainly did not feel like it. Chelsea, for the first time this season, played like the champions of England. They produced a performance of defensive control and attacking incision better than almost anything they have shown in 2015.

Whether they were playing for their own futures, for their manager, or simply to stay in the Champions League, these beleaguered players summoned up a performance of unambiguous quality last night. Porto barely registered on the evening.

There were moments when the last four months, ever since the Community Shield and that feisty draw against Swansea City on the first weekend of the Premier League season, looked like a bad dream.

Diego Costa led the line with bravery and athleticism, rediscovering his dangerous pace in behind, creating the first goal, and helping out with the second. It was his best performance all season.

Eden Hazard still has not scored this season, but this was his best performance as well. He was the cleverest, sharpest, most intelligent and incisive player on the pitch. His clever passes made both goals and, had the finishing of his team-mates matched his creativity, he would have created even more.

Chelsea’s biggest problem this season, since they stabilised their defence, has been creating chances against good opposition. But here, Hazard, Costa and Willian (right) combined brilliantly to tear a very impressive Porto team to pieces. If they play like this through the rest of the competition they could go far, which sounds absurd given everything that has happened since August.

The only real difference between this and the electric Chelsea of one year ago is that last night there was no Cesc Fabregas. The most consistent underperformer of the season was benched, and Ramires provided far more energy in his place.

Chelsea looked like a team who had rediscovered their balance, their form, and their right to play in the Champions League. Bournemouth, suddenly, looked a long way away.

However, Chelsea were given a helping hand at the start. Before the game Mourinho had bemoaned the misfortune of his side failing to convert enough of the many openings they create. It was not an analysis shared by everyone, but last night, just 12 minutes in, Mourinho and his team were delivered with the good fortune as they took the lead with a goal they could hardly have planned. Hazard f licked a sharp pass round the corner and Costa darted in behind, making the type of incisive run that has dropped out of his game this season. Costa skipped away from Ivan Marcano then, through on goal, shot straight at Iker Casillas.

The ball rebounded and hit Marcano, running back towards goal, in the chest. Maicon dashed back and tried to clear it, but was too late. Chelsea had ricocheted their way towards the last 16. Chelsea certainly needed that early goal, given how Porto had started. Julen Lopetegui’s team wanted to play the same pressing game that overwhelmed Chelsea at the Dragao in September. Jesus Corona and Yacine Brahimi were all over Chelsea from the start, Brahimi twice drifting away from Cesar Azpilicueta and forcing a nearpost save from Thibaut Courtois.

But once Chelsea were ahead they looked more comfortable and more stable, knowing that they had a two-goal cushion from the Europa League.

Costa was causing Porto problems with his movement in behind, the part of his game that had been most lacking, leading to his two games on the bench. Costa being Costa, one of his runs ended on Casillas’ foot, meaning the striker picked up an unnecessary booking.

MANAGED

There was a time when a Chelsea team managed by Mourinho had the game sewn up at 1-0 up, especially at Stamford Bridge. This is no longer true in 2015, as the costly defeats here by Southampton and Liverpool showed. This is still a fragile side with low confidence.

What Chelsea needed here, at the start of the second half, was a quick second goal.

When Casillas saved from Willian they might have wondered if they would have to wait and work. But this was the night when they got what they wanted. They had to wait only another five minutes.

Azpilicueta knocked a ball down the left-hand side, where Costa had pulled out. He headed the ball back to Hazard, in space in the middle. Hazard passed it through to Willian on his right, and the Brazilian left Bruno Martins Indi behind before smacking the ball into the near bottom corner of the net.

Chelsea were two goals up on the night and three away from failure. This was, suddenly, a more relaxed place than it has been for some time. Mourinho’s players, led by Hazard, could attack with more vigour and imagination than they had shown for some time.

Hazard was darting passes in, although Ramires could not break through the first time, and Costa was tackled by Danilo soon after that.

When Oscar forced Casillas to save with a back-heel, it felt like the last few painful months for Chelsea had been forgotten.

They haven’t yet, but this was a good starting point. (© Independent News Service)