Mourinho: "We deserved the victory"

[BlueLion. 21,491]

José Mourinho has praised his side for their second-half display as his Chelsea side overcame Leicester City this afternoon.

The Blues were made to work hard for the three points against the Championship league winners, eventually securing the win through goals by Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.

"In the second half we had complete control", Mourinho said. "Leicester came with great defensive intensity, and they tried to scare us with their counter-attack.

"We were a bit slow - slow in moving the ball and slow thinking and we needed to change and we did that. We didn't play good in the first half, but the second half was complete control".

Mourinho admitted his side were lucky to not go a goal behind when Thibaut Courtois miraculously denied David Nugent one-on-one.

"I don't forget their good chance with the result at 0-0, but we created so many chances in the second half that we deserved the victory".

The Portuguese was not dismissive of the visitors this afternoon, and was full of praise for Leicester and their bold approach to the match - a sentiment echoed by Foxes boss Nigel Pearson: "I thought we played exceptionally well but you have to take your chances when you create them".

"There are more positives today than there are negatives. We're not talking about us coming to places like this and being happy to lose the game, but I think the players showed what they're capable of. What we need to do is sustain it for the entirety of the game".

Mourinho was also pleased with Diego Costa maintaining his scoring start in a Chelsea shirt, but it was his other Spanish striker who he reserved a little of the post-match praise for, at the same time as expressing a desire for the player to stay at Stamford Bridge.

"Fernando [Torres] is an important player. I want him to stay and be one of my three strikers. He will play. I want him to stay, I believe he will".

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[zolayes 14,489]

GREAT except for the last line .. it must have been tongue in cheek