Mourinho praises solid defence as Chelsea snuff out Galatasaray

Chelsea’s miniature midfield marvels may scoop the plaudits but success is built on solid foundations and Jose Mourinho praised his central defensive rocks after his side’s Champions League win over Galatasaray.

Eden Hazard, Oscar, Ramires and Willian were all on duty in Tuesday’s 2-0 home victory that sent Chelsea into the quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate but it was John Terry and Gary Cahill who Mourinho picked out for particular praise.

The duo ensured that striker Didier Drogba’s return to his old club was a forgettable one and Cahill even weighed in with the second goal – following a parried Terry header – after Samuel Eto’o’s fourth-minute opener.

“Gary and John had a fantastic performance against two very good strikers and the fact was that we controlled the game so well that you couldn’t see Drogba in a dangerous position,” said.

“The team was very, very solid, very confident and in control for 90 minutes, which is difficult. It was a very good performance. There were no fears, we had a very good approach to the game as 1-1 is difficult, even when your winning 2-0 it’s difficult because one goal for them leaves them needing just a goal to go through.

“But we got a positive result in the first leg and tonight we finished the job.”

Terry and Cahill looked like men absolutely on top of their game and with the ever-reliable Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta outside them, Mourinho can focus on his plan of attack ideas knowing his defence is sound.