The match between Chelsea and Porto was surely going to be a decisive one with respect to Mourinho's managerial career at Chelsea. A defeat against Bournemouth followed by a Champions League group stage exit would surely have made Roman to make the move. However, it was not to happen to the relief of the manager, the players, the fans and surely the owner as well.
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| Willian celebrating his goal against FC Porto |
The game against Porto was arguably Chelsea's best this season. That shows how badly Chelsea have regressed this season rather than how good Chelsea played against Porto. The organization was good and they created good chances, although majority of them came late in the second half when Porto had nothing to lose. However, Mourinho would be a happy man seeing the effort put in by his team in the game.
Speaking about effort, one man who showed a good amount of that was their star striker Diego Costa who was restored back to the starting lineup. Although Costa was not able to score, he did show plenty of endeavor and was instrumental in their first goal. However, Costa did show some rustiness and failed to score with some very good chances coming his way. However, the effort was there to be seen and the fact that the striker himself admitting of his mistake with respect to the throwing of the bib could be a good sign for his relationship with his manager.
It was always going to be a tough task for Porto with Dynamo at home against Maccabi. A win was surely needed but even against this out of form Chelsea, beating them at Stamford Bridge would surely require great effort and fortune. However, they surely missed the latter in the first goal which came of a ricochet. As the game went on, the pressure of scoring twice got to them and it surely was a matter of time that Chelsea got the second with the number of chances that they were creating. It was fittingly Willian who scored brilliantly into the bottom corner against a hapless Casillas.
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| Roman Abramovich celebrates Willian's goal. |
Mourinho would be happy not to have enjoyed the same fate as United. This could finally be a catalyst they are looking for with the Christmas fixtures coming up. Chelsea did look like the team of the old against Porto and if they continue to play like that, they surely look capable of going on an unbeaten run in the Premier League. The smile on Abramovich said it all about the relief around Stamford Bridge at the final whistle. Mourinho may feel winning the Champions League is the best way to enter the competition next season. However, a brilliant run in the Premier League in this unpredictable season may just quite do the job.
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