Jose Mourinho backs Chelsea’s unsuccessful strikers
Jose Mourinho was once again forced to oppose his boys after Chelsea wasted a number of chances in their hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea.
Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard netted the first half goal that kept Chelsea in touch with the Premier League leaders at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
But Chelsea were again guilty of failing to finish the game off, with Samuel Eto'o twice denied by Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel when presented with a clear opportunity to score.
He feared his team's failure to take its chances would cost it after the Blues secured a tense 1-0 victory over Swansea at Stamford Bridge.
Eden Hazard's first-half strike was enough to ensure the Blues collected three points ahead of Sunday's crunch clash against fellow title contender Liverpool. Mourinho's men created enough chances to have put the Swans to the sword by halftime, with striker Samuel Eto'o enduring a particularly frustrating day in front of goal.
"They kill me," Mourinho told reporters. "Every game I am tired. At halftime we should be relaxed with a comfortable result and we were not. The first thing that happens in the second half was the biggest chance of the game and after that we had a clear penalty [not given].
"If you read all these things you think we would go home with a comfortable result but the time goes on and you don't score, and the opposition starts to believe. But the boys worked hard defensively in that part of the game, and the biggest responsibility for the lack of goals was the goalkeeper, who made three or four tremendous saves."
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The Portuguese refused to criticize the performances of forwards Eto'o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, however, despite their failure to match the goalscoring totals of their Premier League rivals.
"They always give something to the team," he added. "No winning goals, but they give what they can."
Mourinho praised man of the match Hazard's willingness to dig in as Swansea searched for an equalizer in the latter stages of the game having thrived as an attacking force for most of the contest.
"He gave everything and his last action in the game was defending against their left back in our box in a situation of danger," he said. "When I took him off he was exhausted."
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup, however, argued that it was unrealistic to expect Chelsea not to have periods of dominance on home turf.
"In terms of chances I think it is more or less what I expected," he said. "You will not create lots in these games. When you play teams like this they have quality players that will make the difference. I thought the intention from Chelsea (after the goal) would be to try to finish the game off. But i think we came okay in the game again and the fact that we were in there until the last second was positive."
Mourinho's three forwards - Eto'o Fernando Torres and Demba Ba - have scored just five goals in 18 Premier League games, but the Blues manager insists their wider contribution has helped the team progress.
“If they score 10 instead of five in the second half of the season, we'll have more chances (to win),” Mourinho said.
“They always give something to the team. Every one of them who plays gives something. No winning goals, okay. But they give.”
Mourinho also refused to criticise Cameroon forward Eto'o, who failed to convert after being sent clear on Tremmel's goal immediately before the break and then again when his volley was saved at point-blank range by the keeper.
“Today I can say the biggest person responsible for the lack of goals was their goalkeeper because he made three or four big saves,” Mourinho said.
“Today I'm saying their goalkeeper played very well. We didn't miss. The goalkeeper made fantastic saves: Eto'o in the first half, the first minute save in the second half.
“At that moment, the action was good. Eto'o attacked the ball perfectly. My striker made the right move and attacked the ball, but the goalkeeper made a fantastic save. That's fine.”
Mourinho singled out Hazard for praise after the Belgian turned in a man of the match performance, capped by his ninth goal of the season, confirming him as the club's leading scorer this season.
“He gave everything, so I'm happy,” Mourinho said. “His last action in the game was defending our box.
“The kid was tired. He plays a high intensity game. He was exhausted.”
Chelsea's Brazil midfielder Ramires picked up a yellow card that will keep him out of the meeting with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Mourinho had no complaints as the foul disrupted a threatening Swansea attack.
“He had to stop the game. If he doesn't stop, there's a risk of a dangerous counter-attack,” Mourinho added.
“It's the kind of card I don't complain. It wasn't a silly action.
“I don't want to cry. I just want to think about the solutions we have. That's life. You lose players by injuries and cards.
“If I'd not played him today, I wouldn't have forgiven myself if we lost points.
“He doesn't play against Liverpool, but that means he'll be fresh against Southampton.”
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup admitted his side's disappointing recent run puts the pressure on ahead of their visit to Aston Villa.
“It's important. If we want to use the positive part from the game today, we need to use that in the next few games,” Laudrup said.
“A lot of the teams will look at it the same way down there.
“I look at the points and the other teams. I think there are eight teams just four points apart. Then West Ham with 14 and Sunderland 13.
“Three will go down and the teams from nine to 17 in the table will be involved.
“Eleven teams will fight to avoid relegation. It's not really a big surprise. The only surprise this year are Southampton who have gone on a little further.” - Sapa-AFP
