• Champions League

Mourinho: Chelsea deserved to lose

ESPN staff
November 26, 2013
Mohamed Salah scored with three minutes remaining to hand Chelsea defeat © Keystone
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Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea "deserved" to lose against Basel, as the Swiss side completed a Group E double over the Blues.

Mohamed Salah struck late on to seal a 1-0 win, but Chelsea still qualified for the knockout stages due to Schalke's draw with Steaua Bucharest.

"A bad performance, a deserved defeat. But because of other results, we qualify. That is the only positive thing from this night," Mourinho told BBC Sport.

"I did not like anything from the first minute. We started with a defensive mistake."

Mourinho pointed to the recent international break, and the exertions of his players in their 3-0 win against West Ham at Upton Park at the weekend, as reasons for the defeat.

He added: "The team only had a bit of stability and control in the second half. I felt the team was tired, they paid the price of the international break and a crucial match against West Ham.

"There was no reaction from the players, and wrong decisions. I am not sad with them, as I understand they were not fresh."

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