Half-time: Basel 0 Chelsea 0 – Eto’o injured as Blues struggle in Switzerland
Chelsea lost Samuel Eto’o to what looked like a nasty injury and were on the back foot during the first half of the Champions League clash in Switzerland, where a point would seal their place in the knockout phase.
Keeper Petr Cech, making his 450th Chelsea appearance, had to be alert to punch Taulant Xhaka’s free-kick clear and dealt with several other deliveries into the danger area.
And Basel, who won at Stamford Bridge in these teams’ opening Group E match, would have gone ahead had John Obi Mikel not been on hand to clear off the line after a corner had dropped to Ivan Ivanov.
The home side continued to press and Cech was called into action again, this time keeping out a shot from Mohammad Salah, who sent another effort wastefully wide.
Chelsea then had to make a change when Eto’o was stretchered from the pitch with what appeared to be a groin injury and was replaced by the fit-again Fernando Torres.
Eto’o was hurt while stretching for the ball 40 yards from goal and immediately crumpled to the ground in pain.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho made one change to the side that crushed West Ham on Saturday, with Willian starting instead of Eden Hazard. Juan Mata again missed out.
Mata was named among the Chelsea substitutes along with Torres and Ashley Cole, with Cesar Azpilicueta keeping his place at left-back.
Chelsea: Cech Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires; Oscar, Willian, Eto’o (Torres 43).
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Mata, Hazard, De Bruyne, Schurrle.
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26/11/2013 @ 8:39 pm
Having Willian on the pitch and Mata on the bench is a symptom that something obscure happens in Mourinhos mind.
In my opinion he’s a bastard. There is no name for what he is doing to Mata.
Mourinho go home, take your bad vibe with you.
Never come back to Chelsea.
I am mad also to all Chelsea fans who give a blank card to Mourinho to do whatever stupidity he wants. These fans want titles no matter what ,even selling his soul to the caprices of Mourinho. What a shame.
Do you think in rotation of players? Do you think Mata and Luis are useless? Do you think Willian deserves to be on the pitch? Do you think Willian cost 32 Million? Well Mourinho thinks all the contrary to you. There is only one way to describe him “The Stupid One”.
Before I used to record all Chelsea games and enjoy watching them later, now I can’t hardly see a complete game, today by example I am writing this instead of watching the game against Basel. Since the beginning of the game only to know the formation was enough to know it will be a boring game.
Now I understand why Abramovich fired Mourinho years ago.
Please Mr Abramovich fire this succer again.