Chelsea 2 Hull City 0: Mourinho thanks fans for ‘fantastic’ reception
Chelsea 2 Hull City 0: Jose Mourinho thanks Blues fans for his "fantastic" reception after watching his side kick off with a win
Jose Mourinho thanked Chelsea’s fans for his “fantastic” reception after the Blues beat Hull City – but then called on the Stamford Bridge faithful to focus their support back onto the players.
Mourinho stepped back into the dugout in west London for the first time since leaving the club back in 2007 before goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard ensured the Blues kicked off their Premier League campaign with a win.
And although the Portuguese coach admits he was thrilled by the hero’s reception he received on his return to Stamford Bridge, he now wants the focus to be back on the players.
“It was fantastic,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “It’s something you don’t forget, something that makes me think I made the right move by coming back.
“I’m one of them, so I’m pleased and happy with that.
“But I think it’s enough – I need my team to be supported and sing my players’ names and push Chelsea all the way.
“Enough Mourinho and come on Chelsea. I know they love me, that’s one of the reasons I’m back and I could say yes to [Roman] Abramovich but now it’s my time to work for them and for them to support the team.”
Oscar’s poked finish gave Chelsea the lead in the 13th minute after Frank Lampard missed a penalty early on.
But the England midfielder soon made amends when he rifled home a 30-yard free-kick to make it 2-0 to the home side.
“No doubt [that it was] a deserved victory,” Mourinho continued. “It was a brilliant first half, [with] great movement, great football.
“It was not a surprise for me that in the second half the intensity of our game went down, because our pre-season was not an easy one.
“It was always under control but in the second half the quality of our game went a bit down. But of course I’m happy with the victory and I’m happy because of what we did in the first half was good.
“It was a good level [today]. We know that in this country it’s not easy to play that quality of football because the opponents defend very well, very compact.
“Our creative players have a very good understanding and a very good movement.”
