Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Chelsea

Prior to Chelsea‘s departure, the British government had issued a travel warning for Israel, citing a “high threat of terrorism”. On Thursday, five people, including an American, died when Palestinian attacks targeted Israelis in a Tel Aviv stabbing and a West Bank gun and car-ramming assault.

“In this moment we are in a good position”.

I tried to play my own game. They now sit second in the group, three points behind leaders Porto, the stark reality being qualification should already have been secured from a group that on paper did not look overly hard.

Last season the 24-year-old scored 19 goals in 52 appearances ah was named Player of the Year (PFA).

“The surface was bad and risky”, added Mourinho.

Le Saux last month criticised Mourinho’s “damaging” behaviour after a series of disciplinary run-ins with the Football Association and the Dr Eva Carneiro controversy amid Chelsea’s miserable start to the season.

A minute after Terry was taken off, midfielder Oscar headed past Rajkovic for 3-0.

Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim I is expected to return to the line-up after being rested on Saturday.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 Chelsea: Chelsea are yet to find their best form this season but the win over Norwich should give them some confidence and Maccabi are a poor side who shouldn’t pose too many problems for the Premier League champs.

Mourinho remains hopeful about Chelsea’s chances, pointing to his against-the-odds tournament triumphs with Porto and Inter.

“It’s simple. If we lose, we are in trouble”.

“We have in front of us two games and we want six points if we have the opportunity for playing next spring in the Europa League”.

The 2015 UEFA Champions League schedule is moving forward with some group stages matches today.

“Very important, especially with what happened in Porto we really needed to win this match, and also important to get two victories in a few days”, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told BT Sport.

Chelsea arrive in Israel with no fresh injury worries, with Radamel Falcao and Thibaut Courtois the only players not to have travelled with the squad.