At the age of just 26, Messi’s overall goals tally in the Champions League is now 62 in 80 appearances, nine short of former Real Madrid forward and record marksman Raul. PHOTO: REUTERS
Jose Mourinho admitted his young Chelsea team lack the maturity to cope with difficult situations after his return to the Champions League started with a shock 2-1 defeat against FC Basel.
Mourinho’s first Champions League match as Chelsea boss for six years proved a dispiriting experience as the Swiss minnows came from behind to hand the Blues their first home loss in the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition since 2003.
Brazilian midfielder Oscar had given Chelsea the lead just before half-time at Stamford Bridge. But a sloppy display featuring a host of missed opportunities was punished as Mohamed Salah equalised after the break and Marco Streller bagged the winner with nine minutes left.
Chelsea’s second successive defeat, hot on the heels of a 1-0 loss at Everton on Saturday, left Mourinho conceding his youthful team were too inexperienced to know how to react when the momentum swung against them.
“I think this team probably is not a team with such maturity and personality to face the difficult moments in the game,” he said. “Against Everton we played amazingly and yet when they scored you could feel the team was struggling despite dominating and today [Wednesday] was a bit the same. We were pressing and trying to be creative but when the most negative moment arrives the team shakes a little bit.
“We go home sad but we have to work hard, it is the only way I know. We have to believe in each other, be critical inside to try to resolve things, but stick together and try to get a result against Fulham on Saturday [tomorrow].”
Hat-trick hero Messi sparkles as Barca crush Ajax
Lionel Messi gave yet another sparkling Champions League recital when he netted a hat-trick as Barcelona began their European campaign with a crushing 4-0 home win over Ajax Amsterdam in Group H.
The World Player of the Year conjured another memorable night at the Nou Camp for his adoring fans by becoming the first player to score four trebles in Europe’s elite club competition.
“It was important to start with a win, especially playing at home,” Messi said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.
“We know how difficult these Champions League groups always are. We found it tough to pressure them initially because they were moving the ball well out from the back. But I think in general it was a great performance.”
It was a winning Champions League start for Barca’s new coach Gerardo Martino but apart from Messi, his side generally struggled to reproduce the scintillating play that has brought them two European crowns in the past five seasons.
However, with their talisman on fire and Barca hosting an Ajax team lacking in real quality, the outcome of the match was never in doubt.
Results
Schalke 3-0 Steaua
Chelsea 1-2 Basel
Marseille 1-2 Arsenal
Napoli 2-1 Dortmund
Vienna 0-1 Porto
Atletico 3-1 Zenit
AC Milan 2-0 Celtic
Barcelona 4-0 Ajax
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2013.
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