Blues’ cocktail of risk and sacrifice goes down a Special treat

Jose Mourinho praised his Chelsea players for embracing his high-risk strategy in Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final success over Paris St Germain.

So determined was the self-proclaimed Special One to help Chelsea into a seventh semi-final in 11 years – and his eighth in the same period – he fielded all three of his much-maligned strikers at the same time as Chelsea chased the decisive goal.

It came three minutes from time from Demba Ba, who became an unlikely hero in a season where he has found game time limited. Mourinho revelled in the success – a 2-0 win on the night earned a 3-3 aggregate draw and progress on away goals – and lauded all aspects of his side’s performance.

“The players were open to the risk, they were open to the sacrifice,” Mourinho told Chelsea TV.

“People in midfield, they had to run miles. People in the defensive line, they had to cope with these big players with lots of space, which is always more difficult.

“People who create were always trying to create. The strikers went to the box well. Fantastic mentality by the boys and so, so happy for them.”

And whoever Chelsea draw in the last four tomorrow, German attacker Andre Schurrle believes the Blues have a chance of emulating their 2012 European Cup triumph.

Schurrle, who scored the opening goal after replacing Eden Hazard after 18 minutes, said: “Every team in the semi-finals can win this.

“It’s one step to go to the final. We’ll see who we get and we’ll see if we can go through. We’re looking forward to the draw and then to the matches.”

When Hazard, Chelsea’s most potent attacker this season, departed with a calf problem which is likely to rule him out of Sunday’s match at Swansea – and possibly for longer – the hosts’ chances looked bleak.

But Schurrle scored within 14 minutes of his introduction and produced a man of the match display.

“We put everything we had into this match,” he added.

“To win in the end is an unbelievable feeling.”

Mourinho feared the winning strike would not come after Schurrle and Oscar hit the crossbar in quick succession in the second half.

The Chelsea boss said: “Against good teams we don’t create so many chances and when you hit the bar twice it comes into your brain that maybe you cannot do it. One minute later you believe again that you are going to do it.”

There was collateral damage from the win, however, with Branislav Ivanovic picking up a yellow card which means the Serbian right-back is suspended for the semi-final first leg.

Cesar Azpilicueta will likely be switched to right-back and Ashley Cole will come in at left-back, while midfielder Ramires will be available again after a one-match ban.