Unhappy One storms out as pressure builds on Blues

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was in no mood for hanging around on the eve of the must-win Champions League clash with Steaua Bucharest.

Mourinho’s mood imitated the stormy weather in the Romanian capital as the Portuguese shortened his pre-match media conference to stride out to oversee the final training session under the roof at the National Arena.

The self-proclaimed Special One declared himself the Happy One on his return to Stamford Bridge and he has been accommodating, jovial and cordial at his pre-match inquisitions thus far.

But, with the Blues looking to bounce back from the opening round loss at home to Basle, Mourinho showed the first signs of strain in taking exception to a question about absent forward Kevin de Bruyne.

With Juan Mata told he will start in Bucharest after beginning the season as a peripheral figure, De Bruyne was told he was not required and was left at home alongside his fellow Belgian Eden Hazard, who has an ankle injury.

“This is fantastic because nobody asks me about Mata,” Mourinho said.

“You are for three weeks speaking about Mata, and now you are speaking about Kevin de Bruyne.

“So you are not interested in the players that are playing? You are interested in the players that are not playing.

“He was not selected. It was my decision. Only 11 can play and 18 can be selected.

“I try to decide by what they do on the pitch when they play and what they do in training.

“I try to be honest with Juan and say that he’s going to play tomorrow, because of what he did in training and because of what he did in the matches he played.

“With Kevin it’s the same. He’s not selected because I didn’t like the match he played against Swindon and I didn’t like the way he was training.

“But you have this tendency to only ask about the guys that are not selected.

“See you tomorrow.”

Mourinho anticipates a challenging evening at a venue where Rafael Benitez’s side lost 1-0 in the first leg of a Europa League last-16 tie last term.

But the Portuguese believes that defeat, overturned at Stamford Bridge, will be an advantage.

“It’s good for me,” he said. “They lost, they know why they lost, they know it’s not easy.

“Last season maybe was a bit of a surprise and this season they know they are going to play against a good team.”

Steaua boss Laurentiu Reghecampf says his side do not feel inferior to the Blues.

“I’m sure Chelsea comes to Bucharest to win. For them it is very important to qualify from this group,” he said. It will be more difficult for us, but do not think Chelsea is superior.

“I’m sure our guys will be more determined and focused. Together we are a team that can handle these games. We’ll try show our collective strength, give them problems.”