Independent:
Cesc Fabregas gets Blues on their way to comprehensive victory
Chelsea 3 Sporting 1
Glenn Moore
Paris St-Germain or Juventus could lie in wait when the draw for the Champions League knock-out stages is made on Monday, but such is Chelsea’s swagger in Europe it is the French and Italian champions who would fear such an encounter. Tonight the Premier League leaders cruised to victory, barely breaking into second gear as they sent Sporting Lisbon into the Europa League. There was even an encouraging glimpse, though just a glimpse, of a home-grown future.
Jose Mourinho played safe in the end, sending his experienced men out to win the game before giving Ruben Loftus-Cheek his much-hyped debut. That they did with Cesc Fabregas, from the spot, and Andre Schurrle putting Chelsea two-up after 15 minutes. John Obi Mikel then killed of a nascent comeback by Sporting with a rare goal ten minutes into the second half.
That Loftus-Cheek did not arrive until the 83rd minute meant the much-touted unveiling of ‘Young Chelsea’ was rather half-hearted. Mohamed Salah and Kurt Zouma, aged 20 and 22 respectively, were given rare starts but with Thibaut Coutois, Eden Hazard and Oscar, all under 24, rested, the team’s average age was much the same as normal. Moreover, as Salah and Zouma only joined in January, for £11m from Basle and £12m from St Etienne, they are hardly emblematic of a commitment to youth.
The future was present, 18-year-old midfielder Loftus-Cheek and goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney, 19, were on the bench. For the latter merely being in the matchday squad was a significant step. With Courtois, Petr Cech and Mark Schwarzer ahead of him that had not happened before at this level.
Beeney would only get on through an injury, Loftus-Cheek would when Mourinho felt there was no risk. Within 16 minutes it looked as if the teenager could start warming up as Sporting meekly gave up a two-goal lead. Filipe Luis, given an outing to allow Branislav Ivanovic a rest (with Cesar Azpilicueta switching flanks) precipitated both goals.
The 29-year-old Brazilian, signed for £15.8m despite his advancing years (in football terms), has struggled to nail down a place since his summer move but he did his chances no harm as he drove into the box in the sixth minute then duped Ricardo Esgaio into a daft challenge. Fabregas, who played in a more advanced role, calmly despatched the spot-kick.
It could easily have been 3-0 and game definitively over on the half-hour. William Carvalho, on the radar of many a Premier League club but looking out of his depth, cheaply conceded possession. Chelsea moved it to Diego Costa who fed Salah. His cut-back cross found Matic sprinting in, but the Serb curled his shot just over.
Given Sporting knew defeat would send them out if Schalke 04 won in Slovenia against Maribor the visitors were surprisingly subdued. They began to get numbers forward but Cech was rarely discomfited as Chelsea ended the half in full control.
The off-field focus was already crystalising around the question of when would Mourinho blood Loftus-Cheek? He remained on the bench when the teams returned for a second half and the prospects of an early arrival diminished when Sporting unexpectedly scored. Andre Carrillo, given far too much space by Felipe Luis, delivered a deep cross that rebounded kindly off Schurrle’s back to Jonathan Silva who volleyed precisely into the corner.
Schurrle celebrates scoring Chelsea's second Schurrle celebrates scoring Chelsea's second But for a fine save by Patricio Salah would have quickly restored Chelsea’s lead following a strong run by Schurrle. Ten minutes into the half Chelsea did score, and it was a collectors’ rarity. Cahill flicked on a set-play and Mikel, barely onside, arrived at the far post to stab the ball in.
The attention turned back to the bench but the first changes were from Sporting, including the withdrawal of Carvalho who, at a quoted £35m, looked wildly over-priced. Sporting persisted, as they had to, and Slimani brought a decent save from Cech with a far-post header. Word had presumably come through that Schalke were ahead and another sub, Andre Martins, was sent on. Still Chelsea fans waited for Loftus-Cheek - and for Diego Costa’s first Champions League goal, not that his failure to score should detract from a strong line-leading performance.
Enter… Loic Remy, replacing Salah who had looked reasonably bright, though not bright enough to claim a regular starting berth. Costa immediately set up the Frenchman but he seemed loath to make his first touch a left-foot shot, so came inside onto his right and was blocked off.
Ramires was next into the fray, on for Schurrle who had made a more convincing argument for a recall, not least by scoring.
Finally, with eight minutes remaining, Loftus-Cheek moved to the touchline, and saw his number, 36, up in lights on the fourth official’s board, and jogged onto the turf to a great ovation and a welcoming chant of ‘Ruben, Ruben’. There was a cheer when he touched the ball for the first time, then a small groan as he was dispossessed. His next touches, swift passes to Costa, Remy, then Ramires, were assured. He then robbed Adrien Silva and burst forward only to be clattered by Paulo Oliviera.
It was an old pro’s ‘welcome to the big-time son’ tackle, and it earned Oliveira a booking. Loftus-Cheek gingerly got up, to more cheers. The expectations on this young man are frightening and it is hoped can soon share them with Lewis Baker and Dominic Solanke. But living with expectation is part of the script at Chelsea. So far this season the club are coping with it rather well.
===============
Guardian:
Chelsea fringe finish group with a flourish against Sporting Lisbon
Chelsea 3 - 1 Sporting
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s progress into the knockout phase proved serene to the last. Sporting Lisbon were outclassed here, and consigned to the Europa League in the process, by a rejigged lineup who flourished in a tie devoid of tension. José Mourinho had not been disconcerted by that first loss of the campaign at Newcastle United last Saturday. His fringe players clearly shared his confidence.
This was a stroll from the opening exchanges, against opponents who appeared nervy and gripped by self-doubt from the moment they slipped behind. The only local disappointment stemmed from the fact the teenage debutant, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, was granted a relatively meagre seven minutes on the pitch. This had felt an apt opportunity to blood him for longer even if the flurry of fine touches mustered during his cameo confirmed underlying quality. The midfielder’s chance will surely come again.
His presence, coupled with impressive displays from those who have been champing at the bit on the sidelines, offered a reminder of the depth of quality at Mourinho’s disposal. This squad can aspire to compete on domestic and European fronts, and they will not be daunted by the identity of their last-16 opponents, to be drawn on Monday. “But there are a few sharks in the ocean,” the manager said. His subsequent admission that he had, albeit reluctantly, himself swum with sharks while on holiday in French Polynesia rather confused the metaphor, but there was still a public wariness ahead of Monday’s draw.
The worst case scenario would appear to be Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain – the alternatives are Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel and Bayer Leverkusen – yet Chelsea have lost at all five in recent years. “Paris would be good as it’s easy to travel for us and the fans,” he said. “Every one is hard. You think Basel is easy? We lost twice to them last year and they beat Liverpool. Two or three years ago they beat Manchester United. Leverkusen are a German team. Shakhtar … I don’t think there are easy teams at this moment.
“But I don’t think any of the big teams – I’m not talking about big clubs, but ‘big teams’ – are out of the Champions League now. Maybe Liverpool. But all the teams that want to win the competition are all still in it. The real Champions League starts now: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris … it starts now. Last season we were not one of the top four, for sure, and we played in the semi-finals. Let’s see what we can do this season, step by step.” There was also some satisfaction to be had in the knowledge City and Arsenal, “direct opponents in the Premier League”, will also have the distraction of continental competition in the new year.
Life will become trickier from now on. Whereas the Portuguese club boasted the clearer incentive – avoid defeat and they would have ensured progress at Schalke’s expense – it was Chelsea’s also-rans who made their mark. Mohamed Salah, on his first start outside the Capital One Cup since the final day of last season, darted up and down the left flank to discomfort the visiting right-back, Ricardo Esgaio. Filipe Luís was upended by the same defender just inside the area seven minutes in for Cesc Fàbregas to open the scoring from the spot, while André Schürrle, a World Cup winner turned forgotten man, skimmed a fine second on the turn from the edge of the area as Maurício laboured to close him down.
The German needed that reward and might have added a second had Rui Patrício not pushed away his deflected volley. As it was, the hosts’ third was provided by Fàbregas’s inswinging free-kick and Gary Cahill’s flick, which was prodded into the net by Mikel John Obi from virtually on the goalline. The Nigerian had never previously scored in 55 appearances in this competition, though no other side in this year’s group phase can match the London club’s tally of 17 goals. Diego Costa missed out but still worked feverishly and will be sharper for the experience. “His confidence is not high, his condition is not the best,” Mourinho said, “but this was very important for him.”
Even defensively, the stand-ins made an impression. Kurt Zouma was aggressive and eager alongside Cahill, while Petr Cech twice denied Islam Slimani from close range when his centre-backs were bypassed. André Carrillo alone of the visiting number proved pesky, and it was his cross – half-cleared by Schürrle – that provided Jonathan Silva with their consolation. Thereafter the main attraction was Loftus-Cheek’s impressive involvement. “I said to him: ‘I gave you this, you have to give me a nice bottle of red wine,’” added Mourinho. “He said immediately: ‘No problem.’” Everything about the midfielder suggests he belongs.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea 3 Sporting Lisbon 1,
Blues cruise to victory at Stamford Bridge
Portuguese side dumped out of the Champions League as Cesc Fabregas, Andre Schurrle and John Obi Mikel all score
By Matt Law, at Stamford Bridge
Jose Mourinho has claimed that Paris St-Germain would be the perfect Champions League last-16 draw for his Chelsea team because it would represent the easiest journey.
Chelsea had already secured top spot and qualification into the knockout stages from Group G before this comfortable 3-1 win against Sporting Lisbon last night.
Mourinho’s men can be paired with PSG, Juventus, FC Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk, or Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 draw on Monday. PSG looks like the toughest task on paper, but Mourinho insisted that he liked to “swim with sharks” and warned against any complacency if Chelsea drew Basel, Shakhtar or Leverkusen.
“We have five different opponents,” he said. “Paris would be good as it’s easy to travel for us and the fans. That would be good. But we can’t decide the draw. Every one is hard. You think Basel is easy? We lost twice to them last year and they beat Liverpool. Two or three years ago they beat United. Leverkusen are a German team. Shakhtar... I don’t think there are easy teams at this moment.”
Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before being knocked out by Atlético Madrid and Mourinho said: “Last year we were close and we didn’t have the team playing at such a high level as we do this season, so we can dream we will do it. But let’s see if the sharks let us, because there are a few sharks in the ocean. I like to swim with sharks – in a cage! I did it in French Polynesia. I didn’t want to go, but my wife and my kids pushed me.”
Mourinho insisted that he was pleased Manchester City also progressed to the knockout stages by beating Roma, partly for selfish reasons. “I’m pleased because I work in England. I want the prestige of English football. And I hope they do well. We also have Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the Europa League, so I wish them good, too. At the same time, it’s good for us that our direct opponents in the Premier League are involved in European competitions.
“United are not. They have the same advantage that Liverpool had last season in terms of the Premier League, a big advantage, but I’m happy City and Arsenal are still involved in the competition.”
Mourinho took the chance to look at some of the players lower down his Chelsea pecking order against Sporting – even though he stuck with his regular front man Diego Costa.
It was also a night for new talent, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 18, was handed his Chelsea senior debut as a late substitute. The teenager was cheered on to the pitch by a Chelsea crowd who are as keen as Mourinho to see a home-grown player break through.
Loftus-Cheek managed a few confident passes and was hit by a tough challenge by Paulo Oliveira in a cameo that earned Mourinho a bottle of red wine. “He showed a very good personality, very positive,” Mourinho said. “Not afraid of playing, not afraid to have the ball. Everyone in the stadium had the feeling we have a kid with talent. I said to him: ‘I gave you this, you have to give me a nice bottle of red wine.’ He said: ‘No problem.’ ”
André Schürrle’s pedigree has never been in question, having returned to Chelsea as a World Cup winner with Germany. But, having started the season well, the forward was struck down by a serious virus and found his place taken by Willian.
While it may not have been against the strongest opposition, there were signs against Sporting that Schürrle is working his way back to his best form. He scored his first goal since September with a fine turn and shot from the edge of the area and was Chelsea’s biggest attacking threat.
Schürrle, 24, almost scored a second with a volley that was saved by Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio and turned provider for Mohamed Salah, who failed to get his shot away.
Mourinho made a point of rising from his seat to slap Schürrle’s hand when he was replaced by Ramires with 16 minutes remaining.
Willian was one of three players, along with John Terry, the captain, and Eden Hazard, who was given a mini-break to recharge his batteries this week. The Brazilian has endeared himself to Mourinho with his work-rate, but may need to start producing more end-product to avoid serious pressure from Schürrle. Filipe Luis is another of Mourinho’s support acts who has plenty of main stage experience with Atlético Madrid and Brazil. The left-back has not managed to elbow Cesar Azpilicueta out of the way in the Premier League, but Luis grasped his opportunity as Branislav Ivanovic was rested.
It took just seven minutes for Luis to catch the eye as he won the penalty from which Chelsea took the lead after a poor challenge from Richard Esgaio. Cesc Fabregas, pushed forward to accommodate John Obi Mikel next to Matic, slotted the spot‑kick in the absence of Hazard, the first-choice taker.
Ivanovic’s place is virtually guaranteed, which means Luis must displace Azpilicueta to get a regular Chelsea gig. The fact he allowed Andre Carrillo to cross for Jonathan Silva to pull a goal back for Sporting five minutes into the second half may not have helped his case.
Mikel had been unconvincing as a replacement for Matic at Newcastle, but the midfielder’s confidence will have been boosted by scoring for the first time in the Champions League to restore Chelsea’s two-goal lead.
===============
Times:
José Mourinho has stress-free night as Sporting live up to their name
Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent
Chelsea 3 Sporting Lisbon 1
José Mourinho sent John Terry, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Willian away on holiday this week. He may now be regretting not giving even more senior players the night off.
While not repeating last month’s rout of Schalke, Chelsea’s superiority was so vast even as they went through the motions that it gave the so-called Champions League a bad name.
At times, it felt as if Mourinho could have been true to his word by making it a genuine Academy Day, and still returned to winning ways after last weekend’s surprise 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United. Chelsea’s under-19s had demonstrated the club’s strength by beating Sporting Lisbon 6-0 to win their own Champions League group earlier in the day, and on this evidence they would have given the visiting club’s senior side a game. In the first half, even the hapless members of Police Academy could have got the job done.
In the event, Mourinho’s Academy Day was something of a damp squib and may have had some elements among Chelsea’s fanbase consulting the Trades Description Act. Chelsea’s first-half goals were scored by World Cup winners in Cesc Fàbregas and André Schürrle, before a Champions League winner, John Obi Mikel, added a third.
Even with a much changed side in a dead rubber, Chelsea still exuded experience and authority, which will worry far better sides than Sporting when this competition resumes next year.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was given a standing ovation as he ran on for an eight-minute cameo that contained a couple of assured touches in central midfield, and Kurt Zouma looked comfortable on his fifth start, but Mohamed Salah was the only other player involved aged under 24 as Mourinho provided a reminder of Chelsea’s formidable strength in depth. Schürrle, in particular, caught the eye as he rampaged down both flanks with impunity, and with better finishing he could have scored more than his third of the season.
Sporting needed to match Schalke’s result against Maribor to join Chelsea in the round of 16, not that one would realise given their dismal display. Chelsea barely broke sweat and did not need to. Fàbregas gave them the lead in the eighth minute, when Sporting conceded the softest of penalties.
Filipe Luís received the ball in a harmless position in the area, but was bundled over by Ricardo Esgaio. Fàbregas has barely put a foot wrong since his arrival and was not about to start now as he slid the ball past Rui Patrício.
If Chelsea’s opener was somewhat prosaic, their second, eight minutes later, was almost poetry in motion. After some neat interplay, Nemanja Matic skipped a couple of challenges on the edge of the area before squaring it to Schürrle, who turned and in the same instant beat Patrício with a powerful shot. The Germany winger has been a peripheral figure at Chelsea since October, so this was a timely reminder of his obvious quality.
Chelsea could have scored a hatful after that, with Schürrle and Matic both going close with shots from the edge of the area, but were only properly roused after Jonathan Silva pulled a goal back with a half-volley in the 50th minute. The home side quickly made amends, though, as they scored again just seven minutes later, with Mikel meeting Fàbregas’s free kick to tap in at the far post.
It will get tougher for Chelsea from here on in, but with Mourinho’s formidable record and a decent draw in the offing, they have what it takes to survive deep into the competition. In the meantime, Chelsea’s rested superstars will return refreshed for their main job of re-establishing a commanding lead in the Barclays Premier League. Mourinho’s regrets will not linger long.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — C Azpilicueta, G Cahill, K Zouma, Filipe Luís — J Obi Mikel, N Matic — M Salah (sub: L Rémy, 71min), F Fàbregas (sub: R Loftus-Cheek, 83), A Schürrle (sub: Ramires, 74) — D Costa. Substitutes not used: M Beeney, B Ivanovic, Oscar, D Drogba. Booked: Azpilicueta.
Sporting Lisbon (4-1-2-2-1): Rui Patrício — R Esgaio, Maurício, P Oliveira, J Silva — Carvalho (sub: F Montero, 61) — J Marío (sub: A Martins, 70), A Silva — A Carillo, D Capel (sub: C Mané, 60) — I Slimani. Substitutes not used: Marcelo, O Rosell, N Sarr, A Geraldes. Booked: Carvalho, J Silva, A Silva, Oliveira.
Referee: S Oddvar Moen (Norway).
==============
Mail:
Chelsea 3-1 Sporting Lisbon: Cesc Fabregas, Andre Schurrle and John Mikel Obi on target as Jose Mourinho's understudies send Portuguese side out of the Champions League
By Matt Barlow
Normal service has been resumed. Four days after their first defeat in eight months and Chelsea delivered a nerveless return to form.
They have completed the group phase with 17 goals - more than any other team - and Jose Mourinho declared the Champions League starts here, with the ‘sharks in the ocean’.
It was just the response he hoped for after losing at Newcastle United on Saturday. His team were in control early thanks to a Cesc Fabregas penalty and Andre Schurrle’s first goal since September.
There was no discernible apprehension that the first serious set-back of the campaign might develop into the type of stumbling sequence which Carlo Ancelotti liked to call ‘a bad moment’.
The outcome was barely in doubt. Even when they threatened to nod off and allowed Sporting Lisbon to shorten the deficit, five minutes into the second half, Chelsea struck again, through John Mikel Obi.
The sight of a Mikel goal always signifies a special occasion for Chelsea supporters. This was only his fifth in more than eight years at the club, and his first ever in the Champions League.
Another treat for fans at the Bridge was a hotly anticipated debut for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, an 18-year-old midfielder, who has advanced through the club’s youth ranks to great acclaim. He is the flag-bearer of what they hope will be the ‘Made in Chelsea’ generation but it will take more than this brief cameo to establish that.
There was also a favour for former favourite Roberto Di Matteo. Defeat for Sporting allowed his Schalke team to progress at their expense with a win in Maribor, but most important for Mourinho was a professional reaction to Saturday’s defeat.
‘We were focused and serious,’ said the Chelsea boss, satisfied his squad have the mental application to launch another long unbeaten run. ‘We showed a good attitude and did what we had to do. We played seriously and deserved to win.’
That said, Sporting did not provide the most formidable opposition and seemed strangely uninterested in acquiring the point which would have been enough for them to qualify for the last 16. This has not the most testing of Champions League groups for Chelsea. But, not only were they prolific, with 17 goals, they conceded only three in six games.
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus leap out as those to avoid in Monday’s draw for the last 16 but Mourinho said: ‘We have five possible opponents and each one is hard. Paris would be good because it’s easy for travel and easy for our fans. You think Basle is easy? We lost twice against them last year. They beat Liverpool. Leverkusen is not easy, or Shakhtar. It is not easy.
‘I don’t think any of the big teams is out. Maybe Liverpool, but all the teams who want to win it are in it. There are a few sharks in the ocean, but I like it this way.’
Mourinho swam with sharks on holiday in French Polynesia. ‘I didn’t want to go, but my wife and kids pushed me,’ he grinned.
This time, he goes happily into the knockout phase of a competition he has twice won. ‘The real Champions League starts now,’ said Mourinho. ‘What can we do? I don’t know. Last season, we were not one of the top four for sure and we played in the semi-finals. Let’s see what we can do this time step by step.’
This win was achieved while resting players like John Terry, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian and those who stepped in proved they are ready and able.
There was the reassuring presence of Petr Cech in goal and it was an important night for Mohamed Salah and Filipe Luis, who were in tandem on the left and quickly capitalised on the inexperience of right-back Ricardo Esgaio.
Luis squared up to Esgaio, stuck the ball through his legs and drew the foul. Fabregas converted the penalty in the eighth minute.
Schurrle, making his first start since he was hauled off at half-time during a draw Maribor last month, scored the second from the edge of the box. The move started on the left with Luis then Nemanja Matic carrying the ball forward. Schurrle controlled the pass, turned centre-half Mauricio and unleashed a crisp drive which flashed into the bottom corner.
Sporting offered little more after the interval, but as Chelsea relaxed and lost impetus, Jonathan Silva pulled a goal back.
Schurrle was guilty of failing to deal with a deep and swirling cross and his clearance fell to Silva who took the ball down on his chest and volleyed low past Cech.
For six minutes, there was a game on, but Mourinho’s players stirred and Mikel struck, toe-ending the ball over the goal-line from a couple of inches, after a swerving free-kick, taken by Fabregas, had been flicked on at the near post.
This was the sign for Mourinho to send on his substitutes including Loftus-Cheek with seven minutes to go. ‘I said to him, I give you this and you give me a nice bottle of red wine,’ said Mourinho. ‘He said, “no problem”.’
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6 ; Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 6, Cahill 6, Filipe Luis 6.5; Mikel 6, Matic 6.5; Schurrle 7 (Ramires 74), Fabregas 7.5 (Loftus-Cheek 83), Salah 6.5 (Remy 71 6); Diego Costa 6.
Subs not used: Beeney, Ivanovic, Oscar, Drogba.
Manager: Jose Mourinho 7
Scorers: Fabregas 8 (PEN), Schurrle 16, Mikel 56
Sporting Lisbon (4-3-3): Rui Patricio 6.5; Ricardo Esgaio 5, Mauricio 5, Paulo Oliveira 6, Silva 6.5; Adrien Silva 6, William Carvalho 6 (Montero 61 6), Jaoi Mario 6 (André Martins 70 6); Carillo 5.5, Slimani 6, Capel 5.5 (Carlos Mané 61 6).
Subs not used: Marcelo, Sarr, André Geraldes, Oriol Rosell, .
Booked: William Carvalho, Silva, Paulo Oliveira, Adrien Silva,
Manager: Marco Silva 5.5
Scorer: Paulo Oliveira 50
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Nor) 7
MOTM: Fabregas
Player ratings by SAM CUNNINGHAM at Stamford Bridge
===================
Mirror:
Chelsea 3-1 Sporting Lisbon: Premier League leaders sign off group stages with a win
Jose Mourinho's men were already guaranteed top spot in Group G but his players were in no mood to slacken off
John Obi Mikel scored his first ever Champions League goal as Chelsea started another unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.
After two early goals from Cesc Fabregas and Andre Schurrle, Jose Mourinho’s side were cruising to victory before his former club Sporting Lisbon scored after the break.
But the Nigerian holding midfielder ended the uninspiring contest – and ensured the Blues topped Group G unbeaten – with his first goal in 55 Champions League appearances and only his fifth in eight years at the club.
Even then, his effort was a tap-in from a yard out which Claude Makelele could have scored.
Still, Mikel was one of a number of fringe players who performed well in this dead rubber for Chelsea with Petr Cech in fine form and Schurrle looking dangerous going forward. But Diego Costa lacked match fitness and Mo Salah wasted his chance to impress in his first start since October.
For all Mourinho’s pre-match talk about the importance of the club’s academy – and 18-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek made his debut from the bench in the closing minutes – he wanted to win this game after the first defeat of the season at Newcastle.
This result means Chelsea now have eight consecutive victories against Portuguese opposition. The kids might be all right but it takes men to win with such ease on the European stage.
The only contribution from Sporting midfielder William Carvalho, a target for several Premier League clubs, was to get booked before being subbed off after an hour as Sporting were relegated to the Europa League.
Sporting had needed a draw to guarantee the runner-up spot but their fate was soon out of their own hands.
Filipe Luis won a penalty after seven minutes by nutmegging his opposite full-back Ricardo Esgaio and going down under the clumsy challenge.
Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen pointed straight to the spot. Fabregas, playing in a more forward role, clipped the penalty down the middle for his third goal for the club.
The Spanish midfielder started the move for the second nine minutes later with a long pass out of defence to Salah down the right. The ball was worked along the edge of the Sporting box and Schurrle drove low into the corner.
Cech was finally called into action after 36 minutes when he blocked a Diego Capel shot after Islam Slimani claimed he was pushed over in the box by Cesar Azpilicueta.
But while Sporting coach Marco Silva paced his technical area, Mourinho lounged on the bench and must have been tempted to shake hands with his fellow Portuguese and head down the tunnel at the break and not re-emerge.
But the contest was reawakened after 50 minutes with a Sporting goal. Schurrle could only head out Capel’s cross to his own penalty spot and Jonathan Silva had time to control the ball with his chest and shoot down.
Salah immediately forced a save from Rui Patricio before the two-goal cushion was re-established after 56 minutes.
Fabregas’ free-kick was flicked on by centre-back Gary Cahill and Mikel beat his fellow midfielder Nemanja Matic to the tap-in on the line.
•Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Zouma, Filipe Luis; Mikel, Matic; Salah, Fabregas, Schurrle; Costa.
•Sporting Lisbon: Patricio; Esgaio, Mauricio, Oliveira, Silva; Carvalho; Carrillo, Mario, Silva, Capel; Slimani
=================
Star:
Chelsea 3 - Sporting Lisbon 1: Fabregas, Schurrle and Mikel ensure easy night for Mourinho
JOSE MOURINHO'S 'Academy Day' lasted seven minutes last night.
By Paul Brown
That's how long teen striker Ruben Loftus-Cheek got to impress in a game Mourinho touted as a chance for his young guns to shine.
The Chelsea boss insisted he would give youth a chance with the Blues already through as Group G winners.
But the only new kid on the block to enjoy any playing time in this deadliest of dead rubbers at Stamford Bridge had to wait until the 83rd minute to get on.
Even the extra stewards who come out before the end of the game got more time on the pitch than that.
Chelsea won with ease against a poor Sporting Lisbon side, with John Obi Mikel scoring his first Champions League goal in his 55th game and eighth year in the competition.
But the other goals came from Cesc Fabregas and Andre Schurrle, usual suspects rather than the new boys Chelsea fans were promised.
Mourinho even said it would be time to shut the doors on the Blues Academy and use the £8m a year they spend on it to buy new players unless the kids start proving themselves.
Well shut them now then if Ruben-Cheek,18, and 17-year-old keeper Mitchell Beeney are the best it has to offer on a night like this.
Mourinho could have played the kids if he'd really wanted to. But the likes of Dom Solanke, Andreas Christensen and Nathan Ake, who is recovering from a thigh injury, were nowhere to be seen.
Chelsea know they have to start producing. The cupboard has been bare since John Terry came through. Ryan Bertrand won the Champions League after cutting his teeth in the youth team.
But he's on loan at Southampton and the chances of him dislodging Cesar Azpilicueta or Branislav Ivanovic at right back any time soon are slim. That's poor for a club of Chelsea's resources.
It was left to a foreign import to create the opener. Brazilian Filipe Luis, a £16m summer signing from Atletico Madrid, took an early tumble after a foul by Ricardo Esgaio.
Fellow new boy Fabregas smashed home the penalty and suddenly Saturday's defeat at Newcastle and the end of Chelsea's unbeaten run was all but forgotten.
Schurrle made it two soon afterwards, turning on to a pass from Nemanja Matic to fire low past Rui Patricio into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
It was too easy for Chelsea by far. So easy Mourinho barely moved from his seat in the dug-out. By the time the second half started he just looked plain bored.
Sporting finally woke up on the 50th minute when Schurrle only half cleared a deep cross from Diego Capel and Jonathan Silva had plenty of time to control the ball and fire it home low past Petr Cech.
It was the lifeline they desperately needed. But their joy was short-lived as Mikel stabbed home the simplest of finishes soon afterwards when Cahill nodded on a Fabregas free kick.
It's taken him long enough to get on the scoresheet in this competition, and he looked like he couldn't believe his luck.
Loftus-Cheek was given a warm welcome when he finally came on but gave the ball away with his first touch.
He improved after that, and even had a scoring chance, but the offside flag went up, and he hit the side netting anyway.
One day he might become a great player. But with Chelsea's track record of bringing through young homegrown talent the odds are stacked against him.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Zouma, Luis; Mikel, Matic; Salah (Remy 71), Fabregas (Loftus-Cheek 83), Schurrle (Ramires 74); Costa. Subs: Beeney, Ivanovic, Oscar, Drogba.
Sporting Lisbon (4-3-3): Patricio; Esgaio, Mauricio, Oliveira, Silva; Mario (Martins 70), Carvalho (Montero 61), A Silva; Carillo, Capel (Mane 61), Slimani. Subs: Marcelo, Rosell, Sarr, Geraldes.
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR)
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Express:
Chelsea 3 - Sporting Lisbon 1: Jose Mourinho stays in cruise mode
JOSE MOURINHO did not throw all the teenagers in, despite the pre–match hints and promises.
By Tony Banks
The Chelsea manager stuck to the tried and trusted to see out the group stage and send his old club Sporting tumbling into the Europa League on a comfortable night at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Cesc Fabregas, Andre Schurrle and, of all people, John Obi Mikel had made the game totally safe, despite Jonathan Silva's strike for Sporting.
So there was just seven minutes left when Mourinho did finally sent 18–year–old Ruben Loftus–Cheek into the fray, just to keep those doors to the academy open. The youngster from Lewisham will have cherished every one of those minutes. But football moves relentlessly on and Chelsea will now have their eyes on Monday's draw.
They will want to avoid possible traps at Paris Saint–Germain and Juventus, but also lurking are Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool's conquerors Basle.
Mourinho, whose team qualified by scoring 17 goals, more than any other in the group stage, said: "There are sharks out there but I like swimming with sharks – in a cage.
"I did it once on holiday in French Polynesia. I didn't want to but my wife and kids pushed me.
"All the big teams that want to win this competition are still in, except maybe Liverpool. So the real Champions League starts now.
"Last season we were not one of the top four, but we got to the semi–finals. Let's see what we can do this season. What are we this year? Top 16.
"It was a good performance, we did what we had to do."
Even though last night's game was a dead–rubber, with his team already through to the last 16 as Group G winners, Mourinho had stressed in the build–up how important victory was to bounce back from Saturday's first defeat of the season at Newcastle.
In the end, it was all very straightforward against a Sporting team who defended limply, even if they occasionally broke with pace. Chelsea were always in command.
As per orders, they got off to the perfect start. Just seven minutes had gone when Ricardo Esgaio felled Filipe Luis inside the area, and Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen pointed to the spot. Fabregas stepped up to convert the penalty with aplomb, and Sporting's problems were already looking insurmountable.
They began to look well nigh impossible eight minutes later, when Nemanja Matic advanced imperiously to the edge of the penalty and squared the ball for Schurrle, who turned and cracked a low shot into the corner.
Matic's formidable presence back in the side gave Chelsea the steel that they had lacked at Newcastle and the chances kept coming, as Cesar Azpilicueta crossed for Schurrle to force Sporting keeper Rui Patricio into a fine save. Then Matic shot an inch over.
Schurrle, another who needed a good showing if he was to fight his way back into Mourinho's first–choice side, then curled a free–kick a foot wide of the near post. The German had looked lively and industrious.
But suddenly, out of nowhere, Sporting were back in it. Diego Capel raced down the right and crossed and, when Schurrle could only half clear, Jonathan Silva buried his shot low into the corner.
It was a jolt for Chelsea but, within five minutes, they were back in control. Fabregas floated in a free–kick from the left and once again Sporting's marking went awry. Gary Cahill glanced the ball on and Mikel stabbed home from point–blank range for only his fifth Chelsea goal in eight years at the club and his first in 55 appearances in the Champions League.
But Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had to make a smart save from Islam Slimani's header and Jonathan Silva flashed a low free–kick across the face of the goal as Sporting fought for their lives.
But the game was up, and they knew it. Eventually, on he came, the new hopeful. Loftus–Cheek, the latest product of the acclaimed and very expensive Chelsea academy. He gave the ball away with his first touch, but after that was neat and tidy. Will there be more?
Gary Cahill glanced the ball on and Mikel stabbed home from point- blank range for only his fifth ever Chelsea goal in eight years at the club, and his first in 55 Champions League appearances.
Petr Cech then had to make a smart save from Islam Slimani’s header, and Jonathan Silva flashed a low free-kick across the face of the goal as Sporting fought for their lives.
With Schalke at this point ahead in Maribor it was looking like Thursday night football in the Europa league for them, with Chelsea having regained their poise and looking much the more likely to add to their tally.
And then on he came, 18-year-old Loftus-Cheek, the latest product of the acclaimed and expensive Chelsea academy, for the last eight minutes. He gave the ball away with his first touch but after that was neat and tidy. As was this performance.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Zouma, Luis; Matic, Mikel; Salah (Remy 71), Fabregas (Loftus-Cheek 83), Schurrle (Ramires 74); Costa. Booked: Azpilicueta. Goals: Fabregas 8 pen, Schurrle 16, Mikel 56. NEXT UP: Hull (h), Sat PL.
SPORTING LISBON (4-3-3): Patricio; Esgaio, De Oliveira, Nascimento, Silva; Carrillo, Carvalho (Montero 61), Perruchet Silva; Capel (Mané 60), Eduardo (Martins 70), Slimani. Booked: Carvalho, Silva, P Silva, De Oliveira. Goals: J Silva 50.
Referee: S Oddvar Moen (Norway).
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