MOURINHO’S WARNING FOR HAZARD
Chelsea win at last... but Jose’s still angry
the team. Cahill was left out so that Kurt Zouma could deal with the aerial power of Rudy Gestede and although Ruben Loftus-Cheek was handed his first start of the Premier League season, he was replaced at half-time.
‘This is not a moment to moan or try to be selfish,’ said Mourinho. ‘This is a moment for the team, just the team, and nothing else. When we have better confidence levels then we’ll go back to where we were.’
It was a win for Chelsea but not a convincing performance. Villa wilted feebly after a promising start when Hutton and Jack Grealish forced saves from Asmir Begovic. Jordan Ayew went close with a free-kick and Gestede skewed a good chance over the bar. All this when the game was goalless.
Defeat leaves Villa boss Tim Sherwood, without a win since the opening day of the campaign, under increasing pressure despite his defiance and the support of the travelling fans, who sang his name. Chelsea fans chanted: ‘We are staying up,’ and Abramovich was all smiles for a change. His team are up into mid-table. They remain 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City but have stopped the rot and have a far more menacing edge with Costa rampaging up front.
He opened the scoring when keeper Brad Guzan fired a pass at Joleon Lescott which was too brisk for the centre-half to control. It squirmed under his foot and Willian pounced, taking the ball in his stride and advancing into the box.
Guzan dashed out, keen to make amends, but Willian rolled a pass square to Costa, who swept it into an empty net. Nine minutes into the second half they were two up and again Villa contributed to their own downfall.
Ramires won possession in midfield and Cesc Fabregas swept it forward to Costa, who gathered it superbly, ducked inside Micah Richards and tried to shape the ball low towards the far post. Costa’s effort caught the heels of Hutton, however, and spun past Guzan at his near post. As it did the tension washed away from Stamford Bridge.
Twice Costa was close to extending the lead, but miscued a header and was unable to connect with a pass threaded his way by Willian.
‘It was not a brilliant performance, but a solid performance,’ said Mourinho. ‘In football you are brilliant when the confidence levels are very high and the players are able to put on the pitch all their qualities.
‘When they feel the pressure of the moment, you have to bring other ingredients to the game, and they did that in an amazing way.
‘Great discipline and effort, great balance in the team. At this moment it’s difficult to be brilliant.’