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| Oscar took and scored Chelsea's second penalty after Eden Hazard missed their first |
SO THE unhappy anniversary was not to be. Chelsea produced their best performance of the season to swat aside Maccabi Tel Aviv - and lift some of the gloom around Stamford Bridge.
Eight years ago tomorrow it was a flop in an infamous opening Champions League game against Rosenborg that signalled the end of Jose Mourinho's first spell in charge of Chelsea.
After this equally uncertain start to the season and Mourinho's snappy demeanour of late, the omens did not look good. But his much changed team buried them with ease.
Even though Eden Hazard missed an early penalty, goals from Willian, another spot kick from the excellent Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas gave Chelsea the start they wanted for their Group G endeavours.
Yes, Maccabi were woeful - but Chelsea's fans showed just how much they want Mourinho to stay as they chanted in unison "Stand Up for the Special One." He waved back casually.
Mourinho made six changes from the team that lost at Everton - John Terry, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic were all left out, and Pedro was injured. He obviously had one eye on the visit of Arsenal on Saturday - but he also, perhaps ominously, said he needed to try a ‘different dynamic’.
Baba Rahman, the 21 year old full-back signed from Augsberg in the summer, made his debut, 19 year old Ruben Loftus-Cheek came in for his first start and Oscar returned.
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| Jose Mourinho made a number of changes to his Chelsea side |
The uncertainty swirling around Stamford Bridge after such a shaky start to the season had prompted comparisons to that fateful night of 18 September 2007 when, after a 1-1 opening group draw with Rosenborg, Mourinho was axed just 24 hours later.
That night Chelsea went into the game with 11 points from their first six league games. Their record this season was worse - four points from five games, 11 points behind leaders Manchester City and one place above the relegation zone. Relations between Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich this time round, however, are much smoother.
Maccabi featured ex-Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim as skipper, they were managed by former Blues midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic and Avram Grant, the manager who succeeded Mourinho and led Chelsea to the 2008 final, was in the commentators box for BT Sport.Loftus-Cheek’s night did not get off to the best of starts, as he was booked after just 55 seconds.
Three minutes later, Chelsea should have been ahead, as after a dredful ball by Ben H, Loic Remy fed Willian, who was brought down by goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. But Eden Hazard summed up his awful start to the campaign by blazing his penalty way over the bar.
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| Jose Mourinho made a number of changes to his Chelsea side |
But the pressure was bound to tell and after 15 minutes it did, as Willian’s curling free kick from 35 yards out flew straight in past the hapless Rajkovic.
Willian then limped off injured, as Diego Costa returned to the fray - but Maccabi came close when Eran Zahavi nodded just over from Nikola Mitrovic’s free kick. Chelsea though were otherwise in total control, as Gary Cahill headed over from another good chance.
In first-half injury-time Maccabi cracked again, as Costa was felled in the area. This time Oscar took the spot-kick and coolly rammed it home.
The pressure continued to mount as Maccabi struggled to cope with Chelsea's pace and power. It was a much sharper, more aggressive performance from Mourinho's men -though the Israelis were hardly the highest quality of opposition.
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| Ruben Loftus-Cheek started and was given a great reception when he was substituted |
But they were given a warning when Avraham Rikan thumped in a low volley that was deflected just wide of the post. It was though an isolated blip in the flow of the game. A minute later Cesc Fabregas crossed from the right - and Costa netted his second goal of the season with a lovely volley into the top corner.
Fabregas netted the fourth from Hazard's pass as once again Chelsea broke with lightning pace.
Crisis over? Best wait for the visit of the Gunners on Saturday for that declaration. Lets just say pressure eased.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Rahman; Loftus-Cheek (Traore 70), Fabregas; Willian (Costa 23), Oscar (Ramires 64), Hazard; Remy.
Maccabi (4-5-1): Rajkovic; Shpungin (Peretz 70), Ben Haim I, Tibi, Ben Harush: Ben Haim 11 (Miha 63), Mitrovic, Alberman Igiebor, Rikan (Radonjic 63); Zahavi.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany).
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