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.
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.
“We played seriously, we were strong and we deserved to win.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Mikel needed 55 games to score his first goal.
He has now scored five goals for Chelsea since he joined the London club in 2006.
