Chelsea boss rues ‘lazy’ first-half display

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted his team produced a ‘lazy’ display in the first half of their frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Norwich.

Knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in midweek, and aware their title chances are slim, the Blues were below par against the Canaries in their penultimate match of the season.

And Mourinho said: “The first half was a lazy first half. The passing was very slow. In the second half the ball was arriving much quicker.

“When you lose a semi-final and you know that realistically you are not in the title race, the energy disappears and the focus disappears and you start to think more about what happens next than what you have to do now.

“That was reflected in the first half. It was a typical consequence of that state of mind. We were much better in the second half – better enough to win the game, but we didn’t. We wanted to win it for the fans.”

Chelsea improved after the interval and appealed in vain for a penalty after Andre Schurrle and later Eden Hazard were felled in the area.

“The Hazard one I saw in the game but to confirm I had to quickly run to my office and I arrived in time to watch it and run back to the dugout laughing. I laughed because I can’t cry,” said Mourinho.

“The other one I didn’t see so it’s better not to speak about it.”

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