Gary Cahill wants Chelsea to push on following Maccabi Tel Aviv win

Maccabi’s task became even harder before half time when former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim was sent off for kicking out at Oscar, leaving his side to play with 10 men for the remaining 50 minutes. “He reacted too. At half-time in the dressing room [there were] a few kisses and a few cuddles”.

Mourinho dismissed suggestions he neglects his academy players in his starting line-ups and highlighted the emergence of 21-year-old Kurt Zouma as proof that the Blues do give a chance to their young players.

Chelsea beat Norwich City in the Premier League at the weekend and this latest lift to their ailing campaign moves them level on points at the top of Group G alongside Porto, who lost at home to Dynamo Kiev.

“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”.

“When Chelsea won, it was a very bad season they had and they won it. So we know the Champions League has these big doses of unpredictability”. With a draw, I don’t know.

“But to leave the pitch with the result 1-0, I don’t believe too much that he can play at Tottenham on Sunday”.

Mourinho was happy with the first-half display, but felt the scoreline flattered his side. The Ukrainian champions host Maccabi Tel Aviv in their final match, a game they will be heavy favourites to win with Maccabi having failed to take a single point in their five contests so far. “I just have to think that we need to win our match”.

“But we understand football and when the results are not good the rumours look like they can be true, which is understandable”. Only that stopped us playing better and cost us more goals. “I hope morale comes, tranquility comes, confidence comes”.

The Premier League champions have made a horrendous start to the season and have been at the wrong end of the league table for weeks.