Mikel gets cameo role as Chelsea win first game of season

He pulled a goal back for West Brom after goals from Pedro and Costa, and he headed in to make it 3-2 shortly after Terry was dismissed, perhaps harshly, after the defender prevented Rondon from racing through on goal.

But Mourinho hinted an appeal to the FA to have the sending-off overturned was unlikely after several failed appeals by Chelsea in the previous year.

“Normally it’s a waste of time for us”, he said.

“I’ve always wanted playing time and here (at Barcelona) it was hard for me to have that continuity”.

Rickie Lambert – 6: After limited time together the strike partnership of Lambert and Rondon showed promising signs when the former Liverpool man joined the game on the hour mark.

But Chelsea were able to hang on for their first league win of the season.

“I’m sad to be leaving this club but happy to have been given everything [by them], so I’m happy in this sense”.

“I can already see there is a winning mentality at the club – John Terry is a great captain, he has a really strong mentality – and the reception I have had has been incredible”.

Leo Messi, Neymar, Gerard Pique, sergio busquets, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta were among 20 players who were present at the press conference. The full-back is pressing high.

Pedro made an immediate impact on his debut with the English champions, scoring a goal and assisting another as his new team overcame West Brom 3-2 on Sunday.

The Premier League match between West Bromwich and Chelsea gets underway at The Hawthorns – Birmingham. Then, with one player less, and we are getting experience of that, we adapted well.

From the outside looking in, Manchester United’s failure to sign Pedro looked like exactly that – a failure, based on cumbersome negotiations, a rookie mistake with other clubs interested.

“I know him very well and he fits into the team very well”.

He also set up Diego Costa for Chelsea’s second just days after arriving from Barcelona for a reported £21million as the visitors survived the second-half dismissal of John Terry.

Saido Berahino was dropped by Baggies boss Tony Pulis, who decided the striker was not in the right frame of mind after Albion rejected a bid from Tottenham.

“I wasn’t going to stay here just to appear on the photo”, he added. “Everybody should be talking about the game and this wouldn’t be an issue or a problem”. I had a good chat with him. He’s a young lad and he needs to be protected.

Morrison went for power from the spot, duly sacrificing placement and making it easy for Courtois to save with his legs on his return from a one-match ban.

“We’ve started this season well but we appreciate that starting the season means nothing because it’s a long season”, City keeper Joe Hart told Sky Sports.