Thursday Nov 24 2005 07:49
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho backed his mathematical expertise after seeing the Blues cruise in to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win at Anderlecht.
Goals from Hernan Crespo and Ricardo Carvalho ensured an easy win and a place in the knockout stages along with Liverpool, who drew 0-0 with Real Betis.
Mourinho had been lampooned for suggesting that one victory from the last two games would be enough to progress, but he proved to be correct after results went his side's way.
He said: "First of all I think I am very good on maths. I thought three points would be enough for us to qualify and it was enough.
"For the first half an hour our performance was very good, very strong, quality in the game but quality with intensity.
"We played a fast passing game and our defensive line was playing almost on the midfield line. It put a lot of pressure on them.
"After that we controlled the game. I would have preferred the team to have played the second half like we did in the first half, but it is not easy to do.
"You have to think and adapt to the reality. When I saw the result was 2-0 - I started thinking and feeling that a few changes would give us a little bit more defensive control. I thought that would help us to go through.
"The second half was not a beautiful game but we played for the result because we had to win the game to qualify.
"I think we did very well and I am very happy with the performance."
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