Mourinho praises Blues 'terrific team spirit'

Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0

Mourinho's Chelsea side secured a valuable win against United through Eidur Gudjohnsen's 14th-minute strike in their Barclays Premiership opener at Stamford Bridge.

While they then concentrated on holding onto their lead, it was a display which made a mockery of Silvestre's claims that the new-look Blues would struggle to find team spirit.

And Mourinho duly wasted no time in ensuring that the Frenchman's words were repaid with interest.

"He said something like we had no time to create a big team spirit, but he was wrong," he declared.

"He is a big player and played fantastically, but he was wrong as our team has that spirit. We played defensively absolutely fantastic and showed unbelievable team spirit with everyone giving more than 100%.

"When my players work together for one month and can still create this spirit and work together, then that gives me big hopes for the future. Sometimes football is beautiful because of competitiveness, effort, organisation and enthusiasm."

Mourinho did offer his sympathy to United boss Alex Ferguson, with whom he clashed last season ahead of the Champions League encounter which his former Porto side won en route to the trophy.

"I told Mr Ferguson that United didn't deserve to leave Stamford Bridge with nothing, although they didn't create many chances."

But while the two managers are understood to have shared a post-match glass of wine, the United boss did not exactly appreciate his opposite number's public sympathy.

"I don't need him to tell me that," he said. "It was a good performance, we worked really hard and we can consider ourselves a bit unlucky. I'm confident in the ability of the team. I was before the match and I've no reason to think any differently after it."

The real picture was somewhat different. An injury-hit United side struggled to impose themselves, especially with Roy Keane deployed as an emergency defender. Chelsea, meanwhile, were hardly at their best but Mourinho was delighted at his side's victory.

"We are not champions because of this victory, but it's always important to start well," he said. "Sometimes you can miss your objective just because of some matches with your direct opponents, so it's important to win those games, especially at home."

He added: "Sir Alex has been at Manchester United for 17 years and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal for seven years. I have been here for seven weeks. If I was at Porto this season, after three years of work with the players, then maybe I would win the Champions League again.

"I don't even know if some of my players are married or have children, if they like meat or fish, I know nothing about them yet."

Ferguson's injury-ravaged side may have recovered to take a lead in their midweek Champions League qualifying round first leg tie, but this time - just as in the Community Shield - they were clearly second-best.

While United started confidently enough, Chelsea soon seized the lead.

United's hesitancy in defence was exposed when Geremi took advantage of Quinton Fortune's failure to control a clearance and the Cameroonian attacked down the visitors' left flank.

His deep cross was headed powerfully downwards by Didier Drogba towards Gudjohnsen, who clipped the ball too easily past Tim Howard, who was slow off his line.

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Geremi (Ricardo Carvalho 89), Makelele, Lampard, Smertin, Drogba (Kezman 70), Gudjohnsen (Parker 82).

MAN UTD: Howard, Silvestre, Gary Neville, Keane, Fortune (Bellion 84), Miller (Richardson 84), O'Shea, Djemba-Djemba (Forlan 73), Giggs, Scholes, Smith.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).