Hull City 0-2 Chelsea
Jose Mourinho reacts:
‘It was another good performance – very stable, very calm,’ said Mourinho. ‘In the first half they controlled us very well and defended well. They changed their system to adapt to us: they pressed a lot, they were compact, so we couldn’t create a lot of chances, but we didn’t open up too much or get frustrated.
‘We never lost our balance, we kept our shape tactically, and we didn’t give them opportunities to score. In the second half when we had a little bit more of the ball we intensified the game and recovered the ball higher, so I think normally the tendency would be for a goal.
‘After that goal I was happy because we were in control, we didn’t go to defend. We controlled the game well, and I think the second goal for us was more likely than a goal for them, and when we scored the second goal it was game over.’
On Hazard..
‘He is playing very well for a long time. The club made a big investment in him last year because they trust him a lot. He is more than just a talented kid now. He feels and accepts the responsibility, accepts that a team player is more than a talented player.
‘Without losing his fantastic ability he is giving us other things. The kid is in a very good moment of his career with three consecutive man of the matches. Let’s see if the Barclays Premier League decide to give him a player of the month, because the kid is waiting and the trophy is not arriving. Maybe they don’t like to go to Cobham!’
‘It’s important because it helps the players to be better and stronger and to grow up faster. To play under pressure, when you’re near the top of the league like we are, is good.
‘All the players are stable in their performances, the younger players are improving a lot and the team is getting better, so that’s a consequence of the work everyone is doing.
‘Do we like to be leaders? Yes, we like, but maybe tomorrow we are second and maybe Monday we are third. The important thing is that we all know we are going in the right direction.’
‘Hull are good enough to stay up. They have a very good manager, big evolution in the team since the first game of the season, they are more than comfortable playing at this level.
‘They don’t stay in the Premier League by beating Chelsea, they stay by beating Norwich and Fulham and the teams that compete with them directly.’
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