Blues stunned as Swiss roar back

Chelsea 1 Basle 1

Just as in 2007 when Chelsea’s opening game of the European campaign got off to a miserable start there was disbelief in west London as the Swiss side came from 1-0 down to score twice in the second half, the last with only eight minutes to go through Marco Streller.

When you consider Chelsea also lost in the Premier League at Everton last weekend it is hardly the thrilling start to Mourinho’s second spell in charge that fans in the Shed were hoping for or expecting; and although ‘crisis’ is too big a word to use at this early stage of the season there is still plenty for Chelsea’s critics to feed off.

“I am the manager, I am responsible for everything,” said Mourinho after.

“Especially after a bad result. In the good moments I want everyone to shine, in the bad moments I want everyone to keep calm.

“Tomorrow I will not wake up with a smile on my face but at seven o’clock I will work hard to get three points at Fulham. In the next match we go to Bucharest (in the Champions League), we have to get the points to put us in the Champions League. We don’t want to play in the Europa League,” he added.

It wasn’t just the scoreline the Special One needs to worry about, either, because although Oscar scored the opening goal, Chelsea’s overall performance was uninspiring, patchy and often tedious to watch.

That should not necessarily come as a big surprise, because it is far too easy to put on blue-tinted spectacles and remember the previous Mourinho era with more fondness than is necessary.

The shadow of the game against Rosenborg six years ago almost seemed to hang over the Blues last night. Only two players who started that night — Petr Cech and Ashley Cole — also made the starting line-up against Basle, but there was a similar lack of energy as Chelsea stuttered through the game.

Of course not everything was the same; a crowd of more than 40,000 packed the stadium this time and chanted support for Mourinho.

The first half was instantly forgettable and at times painful to watch however, as Mourinho opted to field new signings Van Ginkel, Eto’o and Willian and leave out established stars such as John Terry, Fernando Torres (who didn’t even make the bench) and Mata.

The effect was a disjointed display that was only saved in the very last minute of the half when, from nowhere, Oscar drilled home an angled shot to send Chelsea into the break one-nil up.

Anyone who remembers Mourinho’s previous regime was pretty certain that the second half would follow a similar pattern; after all it has always been his philosophy that unless the opposition presses forward, a home team should be under no compunction to risk their lead by going for goals themselves. But that philosophy was their undoing this time.

A wonderful counter-attacking move — aided by haphazard defending — in the 71st minute saw the Swiss side surge forward and, following a classy and fast-paced one-two on the edge of the box, the impressive winger Mohamed Salah curled home a left-foot effort from 18 metres out.

Mourinho’s response was to bring on Mikel and Ba but Basle, who beat both Tottenham and Manchester United in the Europa League last season, twice came close to finding another goal as they found new confidence.

Then, to the astonishment of the Stamford Bridge crowd, an 82nd minute corner from Delgado was headed home cleverly at the near post by Streller to complete a remarkable turnaround. And all this in ‘easy’ Group E.

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Ivanovic 6, Cahill 5, Luiz 5, Cole 6, Oscar 6, van Ginkel 5 (Mikel), Lampard 6 (Ba), Willian 5 (Mata 67), Eto’o 5, Hazard 6. Subs: Schwarzer, De Bruyne, Terry, Azpilicueta.

BASLE: Sommer 7, Voser 6, Schar 6, Ivanov 6, Safari 6, Salah 8 (Xhaka 88), Diaz 7, Frei 7, Stocker 7 (Ajeti 83), Sio 6 (Delgado 65), Streller 7. Subs: Vailati, Philipp Degen, David Degen, Sauro.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)

Attendance: 40358.