Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has described John Obi Mikel’s first-ever Uefa Champions League goal on Wednesday in their 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon as decisive.
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The Chelsea manager insists the Nigerian’s strike on 56 minutes took the sting out of a Sporting side that could have made things complicated at Stamford Bridge.
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“We played seriously, we were strong and we deserved to win.
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“The ones who are playing regularly, they faced the game in the right way. Those that don’t always play, they came in very well.
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“When the game was 2-1 there could have been some emotion but when it went to 3-1 the game was over and the better side won,” Mourinho said at the post-game press conference.
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Mikel’s goal on Wednesday night means he is fourth on the list of players that had to wait longest to net their first UCL goal.
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It took former Manchester United captain Gary Neville 77 games to score his debut goal in the competition while ex-Rosenborg defender Erik Hoftun required 60 games to hit the mark for the first time.
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FC Barcelona legend Carles Puyol is third on the list as he scored his first goal in Europe’s elite club competition after 58 matches.
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Mikel needed 55 games to score his first goal.
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He has now scored five goals for Chelsea since he joined the London club in 2006.
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