The Special One made his triumphant return to the EPL today, and didn't the Chelsea faithful give him a rapturous welcome home! It was a standing ovation which brought a tear to the great man's eyes.
When the game finally got underway and Jose was (momentarily) forgotten, we were instantly reminded that football, as the cliche goes, is a game of two halves.
in the first half Chelsea pummeled Hull's goal like the USS Missouri letting rip at the battle of Iwo Jima.
Only two goals resulted from this barrage however, due to a combination of terrific goalkeeping and some wayward shooting (paging Kevin De Bruyne especially).
The two goals were brilliant though, but for different reasons. Oscar's opener was the result of terrific team play, and Lampard's free kick was a spectacular solo effort.
After the match Jose claimed Chelsea's play (in the opening 25 minutes) was better than anything he has EVER seen before at the Bridge. High praise indeed!
“I’ve played so many times here and won so many matches here, but we’ve not had so many periods here like that quality,” said Mourinho when quizzed about it.
The second half was a different kettle of fish altogether, as Chelsea took their foot well and truly off the gas and allowed Hull to have far more possession that their play deserved (though they never seriously threatened Cech's goal).
“I’m very happy. We can’t play that way for 90 minutes,' said Mourinho. 'We had no energy, no physical energy and no mental availability to play that way. The three boys behind Fernando Torres were fantastic. In the second half they disappeared. All of them played national team matches: Kevin (De Bruyne), 85 minutes v France, Oscar, 80 minutes v Switzerland, Eden (Hazard), 80 minutes against France. When the creativity disappeared, we lost the danger in our game. But the game was already dead when I made the changes'.
Seems a bit early in the season to be making excuses about the team being tired though, if you ask me. Still, a comprehensive win, a clean sheet, and some dazzling attacking play (in the first half at least) gives us hope that we just might be able to win back the EPL this season if we can build on this performance.
When the game finally got underway and Jose was (momentarily) forgotten, we were instantly reminded that football, as the cliche goes, is a game of two halves.
in the first half Chelsea pummeled Hull's goal like the USS Missouri letting rip at the battle of Iwo Jima.
Only two goals resulted from this barrage however, due to a combination of terrific goalkeeping and some wayward shooting (paging Kevin De Bruyne especially).
The two goals were brilliant though, but for different reasons. Oscar's opener was the result of terrific team play, and Lampard's free kick was a spectacular solo effort.
After the match Jose claimed Chelsea's play (in the opening 25 minutes) was better than anything he has EVER seen before at the Bridge. High praise indeed!
“I’ve played so many times here and won so many matches here, but we’ve not had so many periods here like that quality,” said Mourinho when quizzed about it.
The second half was a different kettle of fish altogether, as Chelsea took their foot well and truly off the gas and allowed Hull to have far more possession that their play deserved (though they never seriously threatened Cech's goal).
“I’m very happy. We can’t play that way for 90 minutes,' said Mourinho. 'We had no energy, no physical energy and no mental availability to play that way. The three boys behind Fernando Torres were fantastic. In the second half they disappeared. All of them played national team matches: Kevin (De Bruyne), 85 minutes v France, Oscar, 80 minutes v Switzerland, Eden (Hazard), 80 minutes against France. When the creativity disappeared, we lost the danger in our game. But the game was already dead when I made the changes'.
Seems a bit early in the season to be making excuses about the team being tired though, if you ask me. Still, a comprehensive win, a clean sheet, and some dazzling attacking play (in the first half at least) gives us hope that we just might be able to win back the EPL this season if we can build on this performance.
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