Wednesday, 27th November, 2013
Chelsea suffered from tiredness in their 1-0 defeat to Basel, Jose Mourinho believes, something which means he will go easy on his players.
Mourinho watched his men succumb to a loss at St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland via a late goal, however because Steaua Bucharest and Schalke could only play out a 0-0 draw in Romania, Chelsea have qualified for the next phase of the Champions League.
Basel are one point behind Chelsea, while Schalke are two points adrift. And as the pair meet on the final matchday, they cannot both overtake Mourinho's men.
Defeat to Basel is still something Mourinho is unhappy with, but it is something he is prepared to put down to tiredness because of a busy schedule.
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"The team only had a bit of stability and control in the second half", he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"I felt the team was tired, they paid the price of the international break and a crucial match against West Ham.
"There was no reaction from the players, and wrong decisions.
"I am not sad with them, as I understand they were not fresh."
Chelsea's final group game comes against Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge.
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