Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has highlighted two Chelsea players who he felt were below their best during Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Naija News reports that the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Blues thanks to a first-half own goal from Richard Rios, but Mourinho suggested his team had managed to unsettle some of Enzo Maresca’s key men before the final whistle.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho noted that both Alejandro Garnacho and Malo Gusto found it difficult to cope with the Portuguese side’s pressure and were eventually taken off.
“Malo Gusto was already struggling, [Reece] James came in, Garnacho was already struggling, [Jamie] Gittens came in. We are a bit limited,” Mourinho said, as quoted by Metro UK.
Gusto was replaced by Reece James while Garnacho made way for Jamie Gittens in the second half, a tactical adjustment that helped Chelsea regain some control.
Despite Mourinho’s remarks, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was quick to defend his young Argentine winger, praising Garnacho’s overall display. “Garnacho was very good against them,” Maresca said.
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