Managers Reactions Post Chelsea Game

Martin O’Neill said after the 2-0 win over Chelsea yesterday:

‘I’m delighted for the fans and that should give the players a massive boost. It’s great to beat one of these sides. We drew a number of games against the bigger sides last season, but to get the three points will give the players a real boost. It was a rousing spectacle. We came here with all guns blazing to try and win the game. We played with two wide players and had a go.’

And he singled out Martin Laursen for praise on the official site, ‘I thought Laursen was sensational today and he head to be against a man I believe is the best centre forward in the world at this moment.’

Meanwhile Jose Mourinho said the league could be wide open this season,

‘There is a lot of good teams in the league. There’s a big improvement in the teams after the top so I think it can be more normal for the big teams to lose matches and points because the other teams have spent money, bought players and improved. Aston Villa is one example but you can find a lot of other examples so I think it is more difficult. It will be more difficult to play against these teams because they are better. The league is open but it is the first weekend of September and we are only five matches into the season.’

Adding: ‘Aston Villa played well, Chelsea played well and in my opinion a point each would have been a fair result. But Chelsea made a mistake you cannot make. We are very organised in defence at set pieces. But a game that we were in control of after a solid first half changed with that goal early in the second half. After that, Villa were well organised, showed great spirit and had the crowd behind them.’

‘The second goal means nothing to me in the context of the game. That can happen sometimes in the last couple of minutes when you are pushing forward. I accept the result but don’t think it’s fair – but Villa did not make the sort of mistake that we made.’

Not sure if any of us care whether he accepts it or thinks it’s fair, we got the three points, he didn’t!