Stingy defense puts Chelsea in the quarters

Mourinho's squad advances after vanquishing Galatasaray

Chelsea's miniature midfield marvels may scoop the plaudits, but success is built on solid foundations - which is why 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 quarterfinals 3-1 on aggregate, but it was John Terry and Gary Cahill who Mourinho singled out for particular praise.

The duo ensured 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 we controlled the game so well that you couldn't see Drogba in a dangerous position," Mourinho 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 you are winning 2-0 it is 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."

Sound defense

Terry and Cahill looked absolutely on top of their game, and with the ever-reliable Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta outside them, Mourinho can spend his time working on attacking knowing his defense is sound.

In normal circumstances the England manager would be delighted at being able to slot a regular club pairing straight into the national team, but though Cahill's consistent displays this season have made him a likely starter in the World Cup, Terry will be watching from home.

Roy Hodgson has made it clear he has no intention of trying to lure Terry out of international retirement, despite the alarming drop in form of most of his center-back rivals.

Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard still looks to have one more tournament in him after he too delivered a display full of experience and authority to continually snuff out Galatasaray's attacks before they reached anything like the danger zone.

That left Drogba a forlorn figure up front and Mourinho, who enjoyed some of his finest moments in tandem with the powerful Cote d'Ivorian, had some sympathy.

The Portuguese coach laughed off suggestions the 36-year-old forward had been overcome by the occasion and the emotion of the warm welcome he was afforded by the home fans.

"No, the most difficult thing was the way his team played," Mourinho said. "When you are a striker, if your team doesn't play attacking football you feel like a lonely man. It happens to every striker in the world."

Mancini bemused

Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini was at a loss to explain his team's failure to get even the slightest momentum in the match.

"It is very hard to say anything about the game because we didn't do anything," he said.

"After the first leg in Istanbul I was confident we would get a chance. We had a plan, but we gave away a goal after four minutes.

"It was a difficult game but our players did not make an impact. I am very disappointed for our supporters as they were the best player we had."

Mancini accepted Chelsea "had a chance" of going all the way in Europe but he was not about to hand it all the glory this season.

Asked who he thought would win the English Premier League, the Italian, who led Manchester City to its dramatic domestic title success in 2012, backed his former club.

"I think Manchester City," he said. "Because they have the best players."

(China Daily 03/20/2014 page23)