Chelsea 2 - Fulham 0: Jose Mourinho's boys get high on winning - Daily Star


JOSE MOURINHO says winning is the drug his Chelsea players crave.

chelsea, fulham, jose mourinho, mikel, football, premiership, oscar, Obi Mikel celebrates his first Premier League goal [EPA]

After back-to-back defeats against Everton and Basel, Mourinho got back to winning ways and said: "To win is the real doping - the fair doping is a victory.

"The day after you wake up early and it's easy. It's very, very easy to go to training.

"So we needed a victory to relax a little bit and we go from there.

"At this moment we are there.

"Let's see in three or four months but at the moment we are there with the other contenders.

"Of course we will get better, if we believe in our work and our players and we believe we can only improve."

After going four matches without a win, this was hardly the game that indicates everything is fine at Stamford Bridge.

But Mourinho is confident his side will get better with time after second-half goals from Oscar and John Obi Mikel - his first in the Premier League for the Blues - saw off Fulham.

His main problem - besides repeatedly explaining why he won't pick fans' favourite Juan Mata - is getting strikers to score.

Samuel Eto'o is way off the pace since ending his spell in Russia at Anzhi Makhachkala.

Demba Ba has made just one start this season, while Fernando Torres threatens much but is delivering little.

Mourinho said: "Samuel is, for me, understandable. When you are on the top of the world for 10 years and then you go to a different reality - he went there for economic reasons - it is not a challenge for a player who played for Barcelona, Inter Milan and in the Champions League.

"I knew his level would go down but he is a very good player. He is lacking sharpness but that is normal.

"Fernando is the opposite situation. Physically he is very strong, sharp and fast.

"I don't think he's short on confidence. I'm happy with him."

Joy from Brazil: Oscar puts Chelsea in front [ACTION IMAGES] Joy from Brazil: Oscar puts Chelsea in front [ACTION IMAGES]

“To win is the real doping - the fair doping is a victory”

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea manager

But Mourinho admits his style at Chelsea means it is unlikely we will see the same Torres we saw at Liverpool.

He said: "The way Liverpool was playing is different to now.

"Liverpool was more running into spaces and the way here is more with the ball at his feet and technically, with small spaces to play.

"Fernando is not naturally a skilful, creative player so there can be some contradictions.

"But he is a good player, a good professional and it was a good surprise for me how very hard he works. I believe in Fernando."

Ba and maybe even Mata - left out of the squad completely along with David Luiz - will be among the team that starts against Swindon tomorrow night in the Capital One Cup.

Centre-back Gary Cahill reckons no player is safe from the axe under Mourinho.

Cahill said: "If you slip up, you will be out of the side - it's as simple as that.

"It keeps you on your game, and nobody at this club is complacent by any means."

Fulham, meanwhile, need to get Dimitar Berbatov fit soon so he can form a partnership with Darren Bent.

They showed little up front, though boss Martin Jol was pleased with Buomesca Tue Na Bangna coming on for his debut.

Jol said: "He is very quick and tried to do something up front.

"It's the first step for him. He has come from Chelsea and has been with us for two years.

"He had a big injury but is a good talent."

Jol insists it was an opportunity lost for his side as Chelsea were nervous.

He added: "They were worried but we couldn't exploit that, which was a little disappointing."


CHELSEA: Cech 7; Ivanovic 6, Terry 7, Cahill 6, Cole 6; MIKEL 7, Ramires 5; Schurrle 5 (Lampard 80), Oscar 6, Hazard 6 (De Bruyne 85); Eto'o 5 (Torres 64, 6). Subs: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Essien, Willian. UP NEXT: Swindon (a), Capital One Cup, tomorrow.

FULHAM: Stockdale 6; Riether 6, Hangeland 7, Amorebieta 6, Richardson 5; Kacaniklic 6 (Na Bangna 72), Parker 7, SIDWELL 7, Duff 6 (Taarabt 64, 6); Kasami 6 (Rodallega 85); Bent 6. Subs: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Zverotic. UP NEXT: Everton (h), Capital One Cup, tomorrow.

Referee: Andre Marriner 6.