While most would expect Chelsea to make short work of the Israeli champions,that is possibly what most of their opponents in the qualifying rounds thought, and it did not fairly turn out that way. Slavisa Jokanovic, and previously of Chelsea,oversaw wins over Hibernians, the Czechs of Viktoria Plzen and then, and most impressively,the Swiss side Basel, to reach the group stages for the first time in 11 years. José Mourinho, or whose European campaign ended so disappointingly with the exit to PSG six months ago,is without a number of regulars and knows the morale-boosting victory he needs to take into Saturday’s league assembly with Arsenal cannot be taken for granted. Paul ChronnellContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com