Willian sets the Bridge at ease as Chelsea breeze into last 16

With Chelsea 14th in the Premier League after 15 games ” of which they have won just four ” Bridge thinks Champions League qualification is out of their reach.

Chelsea join Premier League counterparts Manchester City and Arsenal in Monday’s last-16 draw, and avoid Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich courtesy of their first-place finish – important considering that winning the competition could be their only chance of playing in it next season.

However, Mourinho’s team have performed better in the Champions League, and go into tonight’s match knowing a win at home to the Portuguese club will see them qualify as Group G winners.

The result takes the pressure off Mourinho after intense speculation that the coach, who has won the Champions League with both Porto and Inter Milan, might lose his job if Chelsea failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

“When we were candidates with Real Madrid we lost two semi-finals and the same with Chelsea, so you never know”.

Costa dragged an effort wide of Casillas’ right-hand post as Chelsea edged the final stages of the half, with Willian’s powerful drive testing the Porto star early after the restart.

With Chelsea languishing just above the Premier League relegation zone and facing a trip to leaders Leicester next, Mourinho isn’t out of the woods yet.

The hosts certainly got the fortune Mourinho feels his side have been lacking of late, with Costa’s shot coming back off goalkeeper Iker Casillas and against defender Marcano to take it toward goal.

With Roman Abramovich present at the weekend game, it makes it all count against Mourinho and the debate going on at the Bridge right now as regards the next game, a crucial one, is if to give him the chance for the Porto game or to make that change now.

Porto, knowing they needed to get back into the game, tried to push forward, but Chelsea held firm and claimed a 2-0 victory.

Oscar impressed, Diego Costa forced the opening goal and there seemed a greater appetite to Chelsea ‘s play against a Porto side unbeaten in their previous five away games in this competition. When it came to Willian’s next shot – again set up by Costa – there was more power and it flew into the net.

A Costa goal was perhaps the only thing missing from a satisfying night for Mourinho’s men.

“The results are not as good as the way we are working every day, but after our first goal we were more relaxed and confident”.

This was a performance reminiscent of last season’s Chelsea. “That is the reason why I am optimistic because we are all working really hard to improve”.