Jose Mourinho’s truce with the Barclays Premier League lasted just one game.
This didn’t quite reach the depths of his poke in Tito Vilanova’s eye when in
charge of Real Madrid but it was close
enough for discomfort.
This didn’t quite reach the depths of his poke in Tito Vilanova’s eye when in
charge of Real Madrid but it was close
enough for discomfort.
First the Chelsea boss was shaken by Christian Benteke’s equaliser and he
then steamed into Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert.
then steamed into Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert.
Mourinho knows Chelsea got lucky. They won this re-arranged fixture when
Branislav Ivanovic, who could easily have been sent off for elbowing Benteke,
powered the winner beyond Brad Guzan.
Branislav Ivanovic, who could easily have been sent off for elbowing Benteke,
powered the winner beyond Brad Guzan.
Power: Ivanovic
scores the winner
with a thumping
header
scores the winner
with a thumping
header
Anger: A furious
Jose Mourinho
screams at Paul
Lambert on the
touchline
Jose Mourinho
screams at Paul
Lambert on the
touchline
Three points: Chelsea celebrate after taking a 2-1 lead against Aston Villa through
Branislav Ivanovic
Not happy:
The argument
stemmed from
a challenge
made by
Ivanovic on
Christian Benteke
Heated: The
fourth official
had to step in to
prevent a confrontation
fourth official
had to step in to
prevent a confrontation
Not backing down: Lambert gave as good as he got in the argument
By then Stamford Bridge had been treated to Mourinho’s full repertoire:
flailing arms, three touchline rows with a purple-faced Lambert and
countless run-ins with fourth official Stuart Attwell.
‘Paul has a certain personality on the touchline and a certain way of
behaving with comments,’ claimed Mourinho. ‘He reminds me of me
ten years ago, but with experience he will change.’
behaving with comments,’ claimed Mourinho. ‘He reminds me of me
ten years ago, but with experience he will change.’
It was vintage Mourinho, spiky and unabridged. He doesn’t care who he
upsets, so long as his team are winning. Even Rui Faria, Mourinho’s
faithful assistant, jumped off the bench to confront Lambert during
another ugly touchline exchange.
upsets, so long as his team are winning. Even Rui Faria, Mourinho’s
faithful assistant, jumped off the bench to confront Lambert during
another ugly touchline exchange.
Villa should have had two penalties, decisions scandalously overlooked
by referee Kevin Friend who failed to spot the nudge on Andreas Weimann,
or John Terry’s handball in the closing minutes.
by referee Kevin Friend who failed to spot the nudge on Andreas Weimann,
or John Terry’s handball in the closing minutes.
‘We’ve been done by two big decisions,’ claimed Lambert. ‘Ivanovic should
have been sent off.’
have been sent off.’
Mourinho responded, labelling Villa a physical, long-ball team who constantly
boot balls up to Benteke. It was unfair and inaccurate.
boot balls up to Benteke. It was unfair and inaccurate.
Lambert and Villa deserve sympathy, heading back to Birmingham without a
point when they might have won all three.
point when they might have won all three.
When two teams play like this, with exuberance and energy, taking on
lung-busting runs and responding to the demands of their passionate fans,
you don’t want the game to end.
lung-busting runs and responding to the demands of their passionate fans,
you don’t want the game to end.
At times Stamford Bridge was caught in a trance, mesmerised by Eden
Hazard’s ability to pick out Juan Mata with a fading 40-yard crossfield pass.
Hazard’s ability to pick out Juan Mata with a fading 40-yard crossfield pass.
Taking a hit:
Ivanovic's
elbow seemed
to catch Christian
Benteke but the
defender was only
booked
Ivanovic's
elbow seemed
to catch Christian
Benteke but the
defender was only
booked
How are you: Benteke was holding his face as Ivanovic stood over him
Luna's own-goal which helped Chelsea get the three points
- now click here to see all the fantastic stats zone from Stamford Bridge
Ahead: Chelsea had gone ahead when Eden Hazard's shot was turned into his own goal by Antonio Luna
Chelsea went ahead through the sweetest of moves involving Frank Lampard,
Oscar and Hazard, who was denied the credit for the goal when Antonio Luna
deflected the ball beyond Guzan.
There was the effort of Gabby Agbonlahor down the left for Villa, providing the
outlet that earned his team two penalties at Arsenal on Saturday. He provided
the killer pass, an angled cut-back into the path of Benteke to score Villa’s
equaliser at the end of the first half. This is the Agbonlahor of 2006, the man
who nearly earned a move to Chelsea under Mourinho first time around.
He was awesome.
outlet that earned his team two penalties at Arsenal on Saturday. He provided
the killer pass, an angled cut-back into the path of Benteke to score Villa’s
equaliser at the end of the first half. This is the Agbonlahor of 2006, the man
who nearly earned a move to Chelsea under Mourinho first time around.
He was awesome.
Under Lambert he has remodelled his game, a real team player as Villa
respond to their manager’s intensity and enthusiasm on the touchline.
respond to their manager’s intensity and enthusiasm on the touchline.
The equaliser provoked some intense celebrations from Lambert and his
coaching staff. Mourinho was in the technical area, the knot on his tie
slipping further down his shirt as the game wore on.
coaching staff. Mourinho was in the technical area, the knot on his tie
slipping further down his shirt as the game wore on.
A great leveller: Benteke celebrates scoring the equaliser for Aston Villa in first-half stoppage time
Get in!
Villa boss
Lambert
jumps into
the air after
Benteke's goal
Villa boss
Lambert
jumps into
the air after
Benteke's goal
He has put himself under this pressure, demanding the
killer touch from his team ahead of Monday’s game
against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
There will be rotation, as Fernando Torres discovered
when he didn’t even make the bench after starting
Sunday’s opener against Hull.
when he didn’t even make the bench after starting
Sunday’s opener against Hull.
Demba Ba got his chance, but Chelsea are a striker light.
The Senegal forward is good, just not good enough for a
club with Premier League and Champions League aspirations.
The Senegal forward is good, just not good enough for a
club with Premier League and Champions League aspirations.
In another era it would be easy to conclude that Ba was picked
as a message to Abramovich, a reminder that they need another
forward before the transfer window closes. They will be back for
Wayne Rooney, with one last attempt after Monday’s clash at Old Trafford.
as a message to Abramovich, a reminder that they need another
forward before the transfer window closes. They will be back for
Wayne Rooney, with one last attempt after Monday’s clash at Old Trafford.
Battle: Demba Ba gets up with Jores Okore as they challenge for a ball
Fist pump: Eden Hazard was the architect of Chelsea's first goal
Ba was eventually replaced by Romelu Lukaku and it wasn’t a moment too
soon for Chelsea’s increasingly restless fans. By then Agbonlahor could
have put Villa in front with a swirling effort on the hour and a Weimann
volley went wide of Cech’s post.
soon for Chelsea’s increasingly restless fans. By then Agbonlahor could
have put Villa in front with a swirling effort on the hour and a Weimann
volley went wide of Cech’s post.
‘Come on Chelsea’ the home fans shouted as Ron Vlaar and Jores
Okore - who came on after Ciaran Clark went off with a head injury -
stopped almost everything. They were unlucky to be beaten in the air
by Ivanovic, scoring with a header to prompt another icy glare towards
Lambert from Mourinho.
Okore - who came on after Ciaran Clark went off with a head injury -
stopped almost everything. They were unlucky to be beaten in the air
by Ivanovic, scoring with a header to prompt another icy glare towards
Lambert from Mourinho.
Two games into his return to Chelsea, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Clark spark out: The Villa defender is caught by Demba Ba and had to be substituted
Blooded: Ciaran Clark had to come off in the first-half with a head injury
Stretch: Ramires and Fabian Delph fight for possession in the middle of the park
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