CHELSEA DUMPED FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY BY INTER MILAN

During his tenure at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho never lost an English Premier League home game.  After leaving the team in a conflict with management and taking over Italian Serie A side Inter Milan, he’s still got the magic touch on the pitch.  Leading 2-1 from the opening leg victory in Milan, Inter needed only a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to advance in Champions League play. They did even better, as Samuel Eto'o scored late in the game to give Inter Milan a 1-0 victory in the game and emphatically eliminate Mourinho’s former club from the tournament.

Soccer betting enthusiasts who took the underdog price on Inter Milan to prevail in this game were amply rewarded with a +490 payback.  Chelsea had been a -158 favorite with the draw priced at +270.  The single goal went UNDER the posted total of 2’.  It was the first time this season that Chelsea had been held scoreless at home in either English Premier League or Champions League play.

After the contest the media focus was squarely on Mourinho, who was unceremoniously axed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 2007.  Since then Mourinho has publicly stated that Chelsea made  a mistake in dismissing him, though insisted that the victory had nothing to do with ‘revenge’:

"Sometimes in football you win because you're lucky. Sometimes you win because you are the best team. Sometimes you win because you were the best team from the first to the last minute. That team was my team and my players.

"I'm not very happy because they (Chelsea) lost. I'm very happy because my players are happy, my supporters are happy, my president is happy and because I worked so much for this game.

"As a professional, that's the best feeling you can have. I'm not happy because my ex-players or Roman (Abramovich) lost, or that Chelsea supporters go home sad. I'm not happy about their unhappiness.''

Chelsea’s backline defense has been suspect of late, with John Terry being a specific target of criticism.  Mourinho said that his tactical plan was to exploit this perceived liability:

"I planned. I believed Ivanovic and Zhirkov didn't play well either in attack or defence and that created some doubts in them. They felt even in the first half that it wasn't their match. We didn't play a defensive game, we controlled the match and we deserved to win.

"I'm not saying Inter are better than them. I'm saying that, today, Inter were much better than Chelsea and that brought frustration to the Chelsea players.''
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was gracious in defeat:

"They played a very good game. We were not able to play how we wanted. Inter deserved to win. We are very sorry but this is the reality. We were never in control. Inter put us under a lot of pressure and were dangerous on the break. There were only short periods when we could control it.''

"We have to be strong and have control of our emotions. Maybe the defeat could be very good motivation for the next games. My regret is that we did not play as well as in the first leg. I've worked a long time in this environment and it is normal that the manager comes under more pressure if he loses a few matches.''

Chelsea will now focus its attention on the English Premier League, where they’re involved in a spirited three way battle for supremacy.  Manchester United currently holds the first place spot, leading Chelsea and Arsenal by 2 points.