Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea
José Mourinho would have subbed six Chelsea players at half time if he could have done against Newcastle on Saturday.
The Blues boss was furious with a first-half display that saw them 2-0 down thanks to Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum goals.
As it was he waited until the 61st minute to bring on Willian and Falcao for Nemanja Matic and Loic Remy, with Ramires coming on in the 73rd minute for Oscar.
The changes proved decisive as Ramires and Willian both scored to earn the defending champions a point.
“In the first half, from 0-10, we were minus one. It was that bad,” Mourinho said.
“I told the players at half time that I have no time to ask them why they were so bad.
“When so many individuals are playing so badly it is impossible for a team to be a team.
“At half-time I said I was sorry I only had three subs as I wanted to change six.”
Chelsea fell behind after Perez pounced on a mistake by Kurt Zouma, before Wijnaldum’s header doubled Newcastle’s lead.
But Chelsea grew into the game and, in a move started by Eden Hazard, Ramires reduced the deficit with a stunning 25-yard strike.
Shortly afterwards Chelsea were level when Willian’s free-kick eluded everyone, and Mourinho singled out both substitutes for praise.
“Ramires and Willian moved the game, they brought more intensity, and were much more dynamic,” he said.
“Newcastle could not cope with it.”
The draw means Chelsea stay 15th with just two wins from their opening seven Premier League games.
They next travel to Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Mourinho returning to face the side he led to the treble.
Feature image courtesy of Chelsea TV, via Youtube, with thanks
