Willian lifts Chelsea’s blues

Chelsea 2 Dynamo Kiev 1: It was a night when the result was all that mattered and in that respect, Jose Mourinho could reflect on a job well done. 

After a week in which the pressure surrounding his own job had intensified and following reports the manager had lost the support of his players, the Portuguese was entitled to feel a sense of relief at seeing his side claim a first victory in five games.

It was by no means a performance to remember, but Mourinho could draw satisfaction from the way his side produced a committed and determined — if flawed — display that eventually ensured they ground their way to victory.

Mourinho said: “The win is a big relief. The players deserve to get compensation for their hard work.

“Many players are coming to their normal levels, despite having feelings as a team when negative moments come — and they are coming every game.

It was fitting Willian sealed the win with a free kick eight minutes from time. The Brazilian has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal campaign and again provided the driving force for Chelsea when his team-mates struggled to find their way. His substitution in added time drew a rousing response from the Stamford Bridge crowd that confirmed his efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Mourinho said: “He’s playing very well, not just today. He has been playing well for a long time. Everybody did their job very well. It is fair to look at Willian because of his work-rate, quality on the ball, participation in the first goal and quality of second goal.” The relief triggered by Willian’s free-kick, three minutes after Dynamo Kiev defender Aleksandar Dragovic had cancelled out his first-half own-goal was tangible and was followed by a chant in support of the manager. Roman Abramovich may not have been here to witness the display shown to the manager but the renewed sense of unity will have done the Portuguese’s job prospects no harm at all.

The immediate consequence is that Chelsea’s Champions League campaign suddenly looks more convincing with Mourinho’s side positioned behind FC Porto in second place in Group G. They have work to do to ensure qualification but that task is far less daunting than it would have appeared had Willian not found the top corner with his free-kick.

The next target is the weekend trip to Stoke. Had Chelsea failed to win here, a defeat at the Britannia Stadium may well have cost the manager his job. As it is, he will head to the Potteris with belief his side can turn things around.

Mourinho has maintained performances have improved in recent weeks. That’s all relative, given how badly Chelsea have played at times and the second half against Liverpool marked a step backwards.

But last night Mourinho’s side married determination with good fortune and while they still appear woefully short of confidence and conviction, this at least provides a foundation to build on with the Chelsea players gaining reward for the often frantic efforts.

Before the game Mourinho insisted he was still enjoying his job. “The day I don’t enjoy a football match is the day I don’t do it anymore,” he said. It’s hard to imagine how he enjoyed long periods of the second half when his side appeared gripped by nerves but the finale brought undisputed satisfaction.

Difficult times call for decisive action and Mourinho had responded the defeat against Liverpool on Saturday by making three changes to his side including, most significantly, the decision to drop Eden Hazard to the bench.

Hazard’s weekend performance marked a new low for the Belgium international who has looked a shadow of the player who dominated the Premier League last season. And with Hazard sidelined, Cesc Fabregas was pushed forward into the playmaking role behind Diego Costa, with Oscar pushed out onto the left hand flank.

However, Mourinho knew that fine-tuning a faltering siide would only go so far if his players did not produce a performance to match the pre-match claim the squad was united in its resolve to draw a line under an unimaginably bad start to the campaign.

The opening stages offered few signs they would turn things around with a lack of cohesion marking their play. Willian and Ramires stood out but Diego Costa laboured alone and it took a major slice of to deliver the 34th minute opening goal when Willian’s cross was turned in by Dragovets.

Cheslsea had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down immediately before the break when Costa went to ground but they rarely looked like scoring a second during the second period before conceding in the 78th minute when Asmir Begovic flapped at a corner, allowing Dragovic to score.

Another night of frustration loomed when Willian strode up to take a free-kick 25 yards. The moment the ball flew inside the top corner, the pressure eased on Mourinho. For now.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1):

Begovic 4; Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 7, Terry ,7 Rahman 6; Ramires 8, Matic 5; Willian 9 (Cahill 90), Fabregas 7 (Pedro 79, 6), Oscar 7 (Hazard 79, 6); Costa 6.

DYNAMO KYEV (4-2-3-1):

Shovkovsky 6; Vida 7, Khachendi 6 , Dragovic 6, Antunes 6; Sydorchuk 6, Rybalka 7; Yarmolenko 8, Buyalskiy 7, Gonzalez 6; Krayets 7 (Moraes 56).

Referee:

P Kralovec (Czech Republic)