Jose Mourinho was a relieved man after watching his side take three points from the season’s opening match against rivals Manchester United.
Eidur Gudjohnsen’s first half goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory in Mourinho’s first game in the Premiership since leaving Porto.
“United were unfortunate not to get anything but I also felt our performance deserved three points.
“When Manchester United’s Mikael Silvestre said we had not had time to create team spirit here, he was wrong.”
“The group of players I have got here have been fantastic since the first day I got here.
“We were a team mentally. I told the players we had to win this match because the three points we got were three points our direct opponents for our objective of the title wouldn’t get.
“We had to win. If that meant playing a little bit differently to what we like, what we enjoy and what we want to do in the future, then we had to do it.
“Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson put people up front to press us and pushed me to be alive in the dugout and make changes I wouldn’t normally make.
“The best way to sum it up is to say we deserved the victory but they maybe didn’t deserve a defeat.
“I was thinking before the match that it was an unbelievable atmosphere.
“We had this kind of atmosphere four times a year in Portugal when Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon play.
“I am lucky to be here to work in the Premiership and I want to work every day to prove I belong here because I want to stay for a long time.”
