18th October, 2015
Jose Mourinho said defensive reasons caused him to leave Eden Hazard out of Chelsea’s starting line-up as the Premier League champions returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa.
Belgian midfielder Hazard was a surprise omission from the Chelsea starting 11 on Saturday, but the Blues thrived in his absence as an opener from Diego Costa and a deflected own goal from Alan Hutton secured a crucial three points to ease the pressure on Mourinho.
It was just Chelsea’s third league victory of a campaign which has seen them make their worst start to a season in 37 years and Blues boss Mourinho left no doubt as to why Hazard had been forced to watch all but the last seven minutes of the game from the bench.
“I left out Hazard because we are conceding lots of goals. We need to defend better,” said Mourinho.
“We need our midfielders to be just worried in the central area of the pitch, not worrying about compensation on the left or right.
“Playing with Willian and Pedro, the midfielders don’t have to move left or right. They know those parts are controlled.
“Pedro and Willian did amazing work and allowed the midfielders to be very comfortable. It was a tactical decision. Leaving super quality on the bench, but bringing tactical discipline and hoping the team could be solid.
“Today I made this decision. I have other possibilities. I have to try and make the best decision for the team.
“I told the players that this is not the moment to think about themselves or their personal situation, a moment to moan or try to be selfish in the approach. This is a moment for the team, just the team, and nothing else.
“I asked them exactly that, to look at the picture in a different way than in a normal situation.
“When we have better stability in our confidence levels, then we’ll go back to what we were.”
– Close scrutiny –
While Hazard’s stock may have fallen in Mourinho’s eyes, temporarily at least, Costa emerged as the match winner for a contest in which the Chelsea manager dare not contemplate defeat.
“Yes, it was good,” said Mourinho of the controversial striker who returned from a three-match suspension.
“As I was saying, he was coming very strong. Against Arsenal he was very good, and then we lost him for three matches.
“The way he was working in the last few weeks, I knew he would bring something positive for us.”
However, with a tricky Champions League tie at Dynamo Kiev looming in midweek, Mourinho was not taking for granted the possibility that victory over struggling Villa might herald the start of a dramatic recovery for his club.
“I don’t know. I just know that, today, we were able to find this ingredient that we need,” he said.
“Especially when we are not playing at our top level. When you are not playing at the top level and make defensive mistakes, you don’t have 10 players fighting to recover the ball, you cannot win.
“So let’s try to keep this mentality and this tactical attitude. At the same time, with a bit more happiness and confidence, go in the direction we are.”
Villa manager Tim Sherwood has seen his position at the club come under close scrutiny after a difficult opening to the campaign and just one victory.
Brendan Rodgers, recently dismissed by Liverpool, has been mentioned as a potential successor, although he had made it clear he will take the rest of the season away from the game.
“I don’t know,” said Sherwood when asked about reports questioning his job security.
“I’ve seen those reports and people have reminded me about them a few times but I’ve had no indication that the clock’s ticking.
“I’m under no illusions. As a football manager, you have to win matches. If you don’t, you invariably lose your job somewhere down the line.”