Derby 0 Chelsea 2: Jose Mourinho salutes John Obi Mikel display

Jose Mourinho reserved special praise for John Obi Mikel after the midfielder helped fire Chelsea into the fourth round of the FA Cup with victory at Derby County.

After a goalless first half, Mikel headed in Willian’s cross in the 66th minute, before Oscar wrapped up the win with a curling shot in the 71st minute.

And Mourinho was delighted with the Nigeria international’s display on his 300th appearance for the Blues.

The team played seriously, we won, job done

Jose Mourinho

“I recognise his ability to play as an anchorman, to play that position in a very comfortable way, with no mistakes,” said Mourinho of Mikel.

“He reads the game well, plays in an intelligent and safe way, but I never recognise his goal-scoring appetite.

“There was a smile on my face [when he scored]. For some reason Michael Essien gave him the armband, normally it should go to Ashley Cole, so maybe it made him believe he was a goal-scorer!

“It was important for us, we were dominating and dominating, creating and creating but the goal was not arriving. It was like the winning goal.”

Mourinho, whose side will take on Stoke City at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round, was satisified with Chelsea’s overall display.

“The game was difficult,” he said. “In the first half we played quite well, we were not far from scoring but it was still 0-0 at half-time and that is a big risk, because after that if the opponent scores you are in trouble.

“They got the message that in the second half we needed an extra intensity. I decided to change Essien for Eden Hazard to bring an extra attacking player on to make it more difficult for them.

“The team played seriously, we won, job done.”