Mourinho confident of Chelsea progress

Mourinho was critical of the pitch in Tel Aviv, as he suggested his skipper Terry will miss Sunday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham.

“It is such a handsome stadium, such fantastic public, they deserve a better surface”.

But they are likely to also be without midfielder Ramires, who suffered a muscle injury the day before the game after training on Maccabi’s pitch. John is a special guy, with a special desire to recover.

“Ramires slid and has a muscular injury”.

The 34-year-old was stretchered off during the second half of the 4-0 win on Tuesday, and now faces a scan to determine the extent of the injury. Plus the warm-up before the game, the pitch was really bad.

Willian’s scored his fourth goal in the Champions League this term and sixth overall – all of which have come from free-kicks.

Chelsea are three points behind leaders Porto and two points clear of Dynamo Kiev, with Maccabi yet to record a win in Champions League Group G.

Gary Cahill gave the English Premier League champions a first-half lead before former Blues centre-half Tal Ben Haim was sent off just before the break.

“I think we played very well in the first half, the pitch didn’t help”, Mourinho said.

“I was disappointed. I reacted and he reacted too”, said Mourinho,”At half-time in the dressing room there were a few kisses and a few cuddles”. “I know if we lose we go to Europa League”.

Mourinho was asked by the Israeli media about his future but seems confident Chelsea are through the worst after a miserable start to the season.

Shots per 90 minutes(Adam Davy/PA) Over the same number of league matches in 2014/2015, Costa would take some 3.44 shots per 90 minutes played.

“The group, I need a calculator because I don’t know really”, said Mourinho.

“If I did not have Pedro on the bench then I don’t think I could improve on Hazard’s performance for the last 20 minutes of the match”.