Mourinho: Blues were brave

Mourinho: Brave changes

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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho felt his side were rewarded for their bravery with all three points from their trip to Reading.

Second-half strikes from Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba made it two wins from two at the start of the new campaign.

The Blues had trailed 1-0 at half-time after substitute Andre Bikey had pounced on a rare mistake from Petr Cech to put the home side ahead.

Mourinho decided to throw caution to the wind during the break, taking off Steve Sidwell and Paulo Ferreira to put on John Obi Mikel and Claudio Pizarro.

The attacking move, which meant Shaun Wright-Phillips moved to right back and Glenn Johnson went to the centre of defence, paid off as two goals in a three-minute spell gave Chelsea victory.

Brave

"It is difficult to come to this stadium and win so I am very pleased with the result and the players," Mourinho said.

I think the players were brave and fought a lot. They were brave to accept some of the difficult situations.

"It was not easy for Shaun Wright-Phillips to play right-back or for Glen Johnson to play as a central defender.

"It was not easy for Tal Ben Haim after just two months at the club to find himself leading the defence.

"But I asked them at half-time if somebody was feeling a bit weak or feeling a bit of an injury. I wanted to make two changes and I wanted to finish with 11 men.

He added: "Making the changes was a big gamble but if one day it doesn't work - like at Newcastle in my first season - I am criticised. But I will sleep good because I tried."

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