Hazard: What I Told Mourinho

Chelsea’s campaign has so far been marked by the loss of form of a number of key players and reports of dressing room unrest.

“But we couldn’t, and once more the relation between the way we play and the amount we score is not good”. Against Norwich it was the same.

“I tried to play my own game”.

That has fuelled suggestions of friction between Mourinho and his star player who has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Real Madrid.

Severely criticised for concentrating on feuding rather than football this season, Diego Costa was on his best behaviour on Saturday, like the rest of his Chelsea team-mates, and was sufficiently focused on the job at hand to score the winning goal. “Once more the relationship between how we played and the number of goals we scored wasn’t good. Now it is Maccabi (Tel Aviv in the Champions League) and we hope we can win and maybe the Porto versus Dynamo Kiev result allows us to qualify before the last match”.

‘I didn’t start the season well, I know that, ‘ said the 24-year-old Belgian, who is still waiting for his first goal of the season for his club. I’m happy with the players.

“Referees have got a hard job but the bottom line is if you don’t remonstrate, and you don’t ask for decisions and you don’t appeal for them, ultimately you won’t get them”.

‘You just have to keep going, waiting for better results and performances. Maybe the attention here is greater now.

On Belgium, he said: “It has been hard”. But, for the security, it was better to cancel the game. “And we won, which obviously in this moment is very important”.

A more efficient Chelsea attack needs striker Diego Costa back to his best. Terry of all people nearly manages to divert Willian’s corner towards the near post, but his delicate backheel is just wide of John Ruddy’s goal.

The Spain striker had earlier missed two sitters, betraying his lack of confidence.

It is a different case now, and you would be forgiven for not guessing right, what Mourinho will say after Chelsea matches, especially after the dramatic 15-second interview he had several matches ago. My brother called me and told me to look on the news.

“I couldn’t wait for it all to be over”. I was shocked and watching like everyone else thinking “s**t this is serious”.

‘I like playing No 10. “You have to put it behind you, otherwise they win”.

Chelsea leapfrogged Norwich this weekend thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Canaries, collecting only their fourth win in 13 league games.