Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1: Eto'o Ensures Triumphant Return for Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho enjoyed a triumphant homecoming to Stamford Bridge after Samuel Eto'o's late goal secured Inter Milan's place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Mourinho was returning to the club he led to successive Premier League titles and claimed a convincing tactical victory over current Blues' coach Carlo Ancelotti whose side rarely looked capable of overturning a 2-1 first leg deficit.

Chelsea's night hit rock bottom when Didier Drogba was dismissed in the 87th minute after clashing with Thiago Motta.

But by then Eto'o had put the tie beyond their reach with a well taken finish in the 78th minute to give the Italians a 3-1 win on aggregate.

REACTION:
Mourinho attempted to distance himself from suggestions this victory was especially important to him although, having rushed down the tunnel at the final whistle, admitted he celebrated in private.

"I celebrated a lot in the dressing room when the game was over," said the Inter coach. "It was a big victory for my team. As I have said before, I am a professional, I love Chelsea, I love this stadium, I love these people but I am a professional.

"Who knows, in the future I may coach another English team and I will come here (again) as an opponent."

And he added: "I think everything was superior. I don't think it was tactics, it was attitude on the pitch.

"Chelsea had reactions of frustration, of a team that felt the opposition was superior. Our team started the second half in an incredible way.

"We were the best team by far. Chelsea is a great team, we know that and we came here knowing very well the way they play. We knew that if you don't control the game by having the ball you have no chance.

"Every player performed at the highest level to win here, this must be almost a perfect performance. We deserve so much this victory, we were the best team.

"Today they had the ambition of going through and they were frustrated, today because they felt immediately that Inter were the best team. 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 players, great professionals and great people."

Ancelotti conceded his side were second best throughout and refused to criticise the German referee despite his side having two penalty appeals turned down.

"I think that Inter played a very good game," he said. "The put strong pressure on the pitch on our midfielders and we were not able to play how we wanted. I think that Inter deserved to win this game.

"They are very solid. This is the reality. We have to stay focused now on the other competitions, but I think that we could have played better than this.

"I always say if the referee doesn't whistle... so I don't want to comment on his work, on the job of the referee."

"We were never fully in control during the game. Inter put us under a lot of pressure, won the ball a lot in midfield and were dangerous on the break, so there were only short periods in the game when we were in control."

"We were in three competitions. Now we're still involved in two important competitions, the Premiership and the FA Cup. They're both of very high importance. Our objective now, of course, is to go on and win those."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Inter's positive approach during the opening minutes was a bold attempt to grasp the initiative and it worked. Unable to exert early pressure, Chelsea quickly became hurried in their work and appeared to quickly lose confidence that the breakthrough would come.

It helped Inter's cause, of course, that they possess such a formidable back four but Chelsea's attacking play lacked spark and invention and they failed to create enough clear chances to generate the momentum that might have swung the balance of the tie their way. Inter had already threatened on the break and the late winner came as no surprise as Chelsea pressed forward in their increasingly desperate search for a goal.

WHAT IT MEANS:
This is not the first time this Chelsea side has appeared flawed this season and whatever happens between now and the end of the campaign, this game will be held up as a turning point in the campaign. It was hard to ignore the feeling that Ancelotti's squad will need freshening up during the summer transfer window if the club is to challenge effectively for the one honour that has so far eluded it.

Faced with a well drilled, determined side, too many Chelsea players appeared crippled by doubt and lacked the will and self-belief expected of true champions. They have not become a bad side overnight, but it is clear there is significant room for improvement.

QUOTABLE:
"Today I was the enemy. And the enemy won. That's life."
- As ever, Mourinho provides the perfect soundbite.

CHELSEA 0 INTER MILAN 1 (Eto'o 78)

PLAYER MARKING:
Chelsea (4-3-3): Turnbull 7; Ivanovic 6, Alex 5, Terry 6, Zhirkov 7 (Kalou 71, 6); Ballack 5 (J Cole 62, 6), Mikel 6, Lampard 6; Anelka 5, Drogba 4, Malouda 6.
Subs (not used): Taylor, Carvalho, Sturridge, Belletti, Bruma

Inter Milan (4-2-3-1): Cesar 7; Maicon7, Luico 8, Samuel 9, Zanetti 8; Cambiasso 8, Motta 7 (Materazzi 89, 6); Pandev 6 (Stankovic 75,6), Eto'o 7, Sneijder 7 (Mariga 85, 6); Milito 7.
Subs (not used): Toldo, Cordoba, Quaresma, Stanton.

ATTENDANCE: 38,107

NEXT UP:
- Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers (Away) Premier League 21/03, 1600 GMT

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Walter Samuel (Inter Milan): The Argentine defender handled the threat of Drogba with ease and made a succession of goal-saving blocks and challenges to lay the foundation for the Italian side's victory.