Mourinho stands by his tactics with 10 men

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insised he will always play to win after seeing his 10-man side risk an opening-day defeat by pressing for a winner against Swansea.

The Blues were leading 2-1 when keeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off seven minutes in to the second half and, despite Bafetimbi Gomis scoring from the penalty kick which resulted, Mourinho tried to push for a winner.

Mourinho, who had never previously failed to win a season-opener as Chelsea boss in five attempts, says he would employ the same tactics in the future.

He said: “Even in my first period here, because my record at Stamford Bridge is something incredible, I never played for a draw so if we lose, we lose.

“At home a draw is only good in special circumstances, like last season when we were almost champions and a draw against Manchester United would be a good result.

“Apart from that we play at home to win. That is normal. The players know this is a bad result.

“But one point is one point and playing with 10 men for such a long time is very difficult.

“And fundamentally the players know I am happy with the quality in the first half and happy with their spirit in the second half, so we are at peace.”

Courtois’ dismissal means he will now serve a ban, with summer signing Asmir Begovic set to stand in for the Belgian.

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