Jose profits from loss

14 April 2012

After scaling the heights of European football last season Jose Mourinho has little experience of losing games, but it will do him no harm to be brought back down to earth. Even God, who was forced to share Mourinho's big blue chair at Porto, suffers the odd setback.

The Chelsea head coach was not delighted by the poor defending that caused him to lose his unbeaten run at his new club, but last night's 3-2 defeat by AC Milan should not detract from what has been a successful American tour. After three games, over 10,000 miles and the odd personal appearance, progress has clearly been made.

Mourinho has insisted all along that the ChampionsWorld Series is little more than a glorified training exercise and was not about to panic after late goals from Alessandro Costacurta and Andriy Shevchenko gave Milan victory.

He said: "It's the same as after the victories and was a good training session. Maybe it was even better because Milan are a stronger team and played with a stronger attitude. It was a great training session.

"If it was a real game the result was not fair, but football is not always how it should be. The second half was under control and I did not see Milan scoring a goal. You cannot just concede a goal from a corner and that's the lesson we must learn. When you are the better team and lose a competitive match you are really sad."

Chelsea have one more friendly before the big Premiership kick-off against Manchester United on 15 August, Sunday's tribute to Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge, but the spine of the team is already taking shape. Mourinho's hand may be slightly forced by fitness concerns over Damien Duff and Adrian Mutu and the possible suspension of Mateja Kezman, but after scoring nine goals in three games several players demand inclusion.

Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen look like a world-class strike partnership in the making. After appearing sloppy and ill-prepared against Roma last week Drogba showed far more sharpness last night, with his pace and power providing a constant threat. The 26-year-old also demonstrated his aerial prowess, leaping above Paolo Maldini to give Chelsea a 2-1 lead after Cafu had spectacularly cancelled out Gudjohnsen's 20th-minute opener, and should get even better as his fitness improves. His electrifying skills remain relatively unhoned but there is no doubting his raw talent.

Gudjohnsen could be Drogba's perfect foil. The Icelandic international has been Chelsea's most intelligent striker since Zola's departure last summer and, with his well-timed runs and delicate touches, provides a great link between the midfield and attack.

Underused by the mistrustful Claudio Ranieri the 25-year-old is thriving under Mourinho and is also developing greater confidence in front of goal, scoring twice in three games on this tour.

Gudjohnsen gave Chelsea the lead against Milan, taking advantage of a Scott Parker freekick to prod home from six yards. Having seen his most effective strike partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink depart to Middlesbrough Gudjohnsen hopes that his relationship with Drogba will prove just as fruitful.

He said: "Drogba is a great player, very dangerous and has everything a good centre-forward would want. He's very quick, very strong and I'm looking forward to playing with him.

"All our strikers are very different and that could help us gel on the pitch. Jimmy and I were very different but had a great partnership and hopefully Didier and I can do the same."

With all the strikers except Mutu in the goals Mourinho has plenty of options ahead of the United game, and the competition for places in midfield is equally intense. Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele are certain to start and although Geremi has impressed in America, starting all three games on the right-hand side of midfield, Arjen Robben and Alexei Smertin should complete the quartet. Mourinho's one area of concern is at the back and Chelsea have conceded several soft goals on this trip. Milan looked a beaten side after Drogba's goal last night but poor marking at a corner allowed them back into the game, Costacurta beating John Terry to the ball, and Carlo Cudicini could have done better with Shevchenko's 87thminute free-kick. Roman Abramovich will be wishing he had signed the Ukrainian after all.

Ricardo Carvalho looked unsurprisingly short of match sharpness on his Chelsea debut last night, but Mourinho is confident his new-look side will be ready to face United.

He said: "I am really happy with the tour and the players, the way they are training, their evolution as a team and the way they play. We have the right players and we will be ready. We need more time to become a really good team but we still have 12 days.

"It's an important match but it's just worth three points. It will not decide the season."

MORE ABOUT

AC Milan

Andriy Shevchenko

Jose Mourinho

Jose profits from loss

Read More