Crucial Champions League victory proves Chelsea have rediscovered their resilience, insists under-pressure Jose Mourinho
Chelsea 2, Dynamo Kiev 1
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his side rediscovered their resilience amid a second-half Dynamo Kiev fightback to record a crucial Champions League victory and relieve the pressure on the under-fire Portuguese.
Visiting defender Aleksandar Dragovic atoned for his first-half own goal by levelling as the final 10 minutes approached, only for Willian to calm a nervy Stamford Bridge with a sumptuous free-kick moments later.
In two of their previous three home matches, Chelsea had taken the lead only to wilt after conceding an equaliser, but on this occasion refused to succumb and duly moved second in Group G, three points adrift of leaders Porto.
“The win is a big relief,” said Mourinho, whose position had come under scrutiny following a run of one win in eight matches. “When the negative moment comes, the team shake a little bit, but today we were prepared for the negative moment because they are coming every match. We had a reaction.
“We were confident in the negative moment because the negative moment is always arriving for us and in many different ways in the game. But I think the team was strong mentally and the team kept trying and I am happy with that.”
Chelsea will progress to the competition’s knockout stage should they beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Israel in their next Champions League fixture on 24 November and Dynamo fail to beat Porto.