Schalke 5-0

Independent:


Chelsea stroll into next round after destroying sorry Schalke
 
Schalke 0 Chelsea 5

Glenn Moore  


Sixteen minutes into this match, the Chelsea fans broke into a chant of ‘There’s only one Di Matteo’, in honour of the man who wore No 16 with distinction in their midfield, then coached the club to its 2012 Champions League triumph.

The chant, which seemed to have been retired since Jose Mourinho replaced Roberto Di Matteo’s successor, Rafa Benitez, as Chelsea manager, was the Italian’s only good moment of a dreadful night.

Even then, any happiness will have been tempered as the Schalke team he now coaches were 1-0 down to Chelsea and looking in danger of being overwhelmed. Chelsea, who had taken the lead in the second minute through John Terry, settled for five goals. With the others scored by Willian, Didier Drogba, Ramires and an own goal, their only disappointment was that Diego Costa failed to break his Champions League duck for the club.

Goals, though, will surely come given his ability and the number of chances Chelsea are currently creating. Costa may, though, have to wait until the knockout matches in the spring as there is no need to play him against Sporting next month, as this win secured Chelsea top spot in group G.

Didier Drogba and Willian bagged a goal each Didier Drogba and Willian bagged a goal each  It also underlined their status as the only English side capable of preventing Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich winning the competition this season.

Mourinho, eager to ease the pressure of fixtures next month by qualifying for the last 16 early, selected his strongest side, unchanged one from the team that extended their unbeaten start to the season to 18 games by beating West Brom on Saturday.

The only survivor from the Chelsea XI that started the Champions League final under Di Matteo was Gary Cahill (though, but for suspension, Terry and Branislav Ivanovic would have played in Munich).

Mourinho was reluctant to talk about Di Matteo’s ‘history’ with Chelsea before the match, but he has history of his own at this ground. The Aufshalke Arena was where he won his first Champions League, masterminding Porto’s 3-0 win. He has been back since, most recently last season when Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win.  

Within two minutes, this tie seemed destined to go the same way as Chelsea swept into the lead. With right-back Atsuto Uchida caught upfield, Chelsea counter-attacked through Oscar who released Costa. He broke forward, cut inside his marker, and brought a fine, low save from Ralf Fährmann.

Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke were humiliated by the club he used to play for and manage Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke were humiliated by the club he used to play for and manage  Chelsea were not to be denied for long, though, as the resulting corner was delivered by Cesc Fabregas onto the brow of Terry, who headed powerfully home. At 86 seconds, it was Chelsea’s fastest Champions League goal.

It was also the perfect riposte from his team for the embarrassment Mourinho endured before kick-off. Doubtless seeking to make a point – as there is little he does unplanned – he perched at the top of the tunnel in full view of the banks of photographers to wait for Di Matteo. The players came past, the mascots came past, the various staff came out, the mascots came back. Mourinho waited, and waited. Finally Di Matteo emerged, the pair exchanged the most perfunctory of handshakes and Mourinho stalked off to the bench. On the pitch, it was Di Matteo’s team being embarrassed.

Branislav Ivanovic and Costa both had opportunities to double Chelsea’s lead before, in a rare spell of possession, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting chanced a shot that looped up off Cahill and onto the bar. It was a freak effort, but enough to bring Mourinho to his feet berating his team, pulling Oscar and Fabregas aside for instructions.

They clearly paid heed and in the 29th minute, Chelsea conjured a beautiful goal. A series of swift passes involving several players ended with Willian driving a low shot straight through Fährmann.

If the goalkeeper was unhappy with that, his hapless defenders were faring no better. Having earlier rescued a poor back-pass by Benedikt Höwedes, Fährmann had to come flying from his goal again as Marco Höge left another pass short. Costa got there first but stumbled as he went past the keeper, possibly clipped by Fährmann. To the Spanish international’s credit, he kept his feet but by the time he had the ball under control, Schalke were able to clear.

Once again, the reprieve was brief. Two minutes before the break, Fährmann saved again from Costa but Jan Kirchoff, under no real pressure, headed Fabregas’ corner into his own net. Unsurprisingly, the half-time whistle was greeted with boos by the home support.

Chelsea were content to sit back in the second period, conserve energy and look to hit Schalke on the break. Costa, Willian and Oscar all had chances but improved defending – and some poor judgement in possession – meant Schalke survived further punishment until the 76th minute. Then Schalke’s high line was caught out again this time by a Fabregas pass to Willian. The Brazilian drew Fährmann before squaring for Drogba – the hero of 2012 – to tap in. Then, little over a minute later, Drogba turned provider, chipping a cross over Fährmann that Ramires headed in at the far post.

André Schürrle and Edin Hazard could have added a sixth in the closing stages but Chelsea fans did not appear to mind their failure to do so, perhaps they felt Di Matteo had suffered enough.



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Guardian:

Dominant Chelsea make short work of Schalke in five-goal rout

Schalke 0 Chelsea 5

Dominic Fifield at the Veltins-Arena

Roberto Di Matteo had been right to suppose sentimentality would go ignored against the team he had guided to Champions League success two years ago. All that awaited him here was abject humiliation. The travelling fans chorused the Italian’s name from afar almost in sympathy, but he could only watch helplessly as his recently-adopted Schalke team were ruthlessly put to the sword. Chelsea appear unstoppable.

This resounding win, described by José Mourinho as the club’s most impressive away from home, secured top spot in Group G and passage into the knockout phase, but it also sent a powerful message to the other contenders for the trophy. The west London club are now unbeaten in 19 games this season, and 21 stretching back to last April. When they click, as is fast becoming the norm, they are untouchable. The final game of the section, at home to Sporting Lisbon while others home and abroad fret over their destiny, has become an opportunity to rest legs ahead of the Christmas clutter. They have created their own breathing space.

Mourinho justifiably spoke of qualities that, in the past, have not instantly sprung to mind when describing teams he has managed. He pointed to “something quite new in Chelsea’s football: this happiness, this flair, this beauty”. “I don’t remember Chelsea playing in this way away from home,” he said. “Obviously, [there have been] great victories away from home with me, with Roberto, even … I don’t remember … even with other managers. But this was very impressive. Very complete.”

Was there any consolation he could offer his hosts? “The best comfort they can have is that they lost to the best team, a team who put in a perfect performance. It was not their fault. It was our fault.”

It is Chelsea’s balance which sets them apart. They appear to have the perfect blend: there is strength and physical presence, skill and creation, lightening pace and a streetwise edge if required. They converted five of the eight attempts they had on target, dominated possession and imposed their class when the mood took them. They were ahead after 86 seconds, out of sight by the interval. Just as Schalke thought they might escape with some dignity, the visiting substitutes roused themselves to score twice in two minutes late on. A five-goal thrashing almost felt inadequate.

Di Matteo took over as manager of the Bundesliga side last month and this was no way for the Italian to renew acquaintance with the club for whom he had excelled as a player and subsequently steered to a first Champions League title, as interim manager in 2012. The visiting fans granted him his 16th-minute applause, as they had to mark his shirt number in the immediate aftermath of his sacking two years ago, but everything else about this was as brutal as that dismissal.

Cesc Fàbregas, who dictated the visitors’ rhythm alongside the leggy and dominant Nemanja Matic, had delivered both the first-half corners from which Chelsea scored. John Terry rose above Benedikt Höwedes to convert the club’s fastest Champions League goal, rendering Ralf Fährmann’s even-earlier save to deny Diego Costa all rather meaningless. The goalkeeper’s display rather disintegrated thereafter.

It was Fàbregas’s wicked delivery again on the stroke of half-time which saw a panicked Jan Kirchhoff head the ball into his own goal. The home support had already resorted to booing their own by then, so dismayed had they been the team’s inferiority even if Chelsea’s second – a well-worked team move even Barcelona in their pomp might have cherished – had actually provoked appreciative applause. That move started inside their own half, all intricate passes and darts upfield, with at least 24 touches bypassing flustered opponents before Willian spied space to collect and dispatch a low shot inside Fährmann’s near post in the 29th minute.

The goalkeeper should have done better with the finish, but Schalke’s players had all been left dizzied and disorientated as those in yellow poured forward. Di Matteo could only wince at the mismatch this had become, complaining that his players were “not aggressive enough” and “allowed Chelsea too much space to play”. His own team struck the bar when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s shot deflected off Gary Cahill’s ankle on to the woodwork, but that was exceptional. The home manager even felt compelled to apologise for his team’s performance, which summed it up.

They wilted again once exhaustion kicked in. Fàbregas’s diagonal pass was all it took to liberate Willian, who squared for the substitute Didier Drogba to tap in his 50th European goal with 14 minutes left. Two minutes later the veteran – summoned when Costa took a knock, though the Spain forward will be fit to face Sunderland on Saturday – was crossing for Ramires to head into a gaping net to complete the thrashing.

“For this team to be as good or better than other Chelsea teams, they need to win,” added Mourinho. “At this moment: zero titles. We have to try and win things so this team goes down in Chelsea’s history as a brilliant team who won something.”


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Telegraph:


Schalke 0 Chelsea 5

John Terry and Didier Drogba roll back the years with ruthless victory
Jose Mourinho's side stroll into knockout stages
     
By  Matt Law


Top of the Premier League, unbeaten in all competitions and safely into the knockout stages of the Champions League as Group G winners. Chelsea continue to make light work of what has been such a difficult season for so many of their rivals.

The bad news for Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Europe’s best teams is that Chelsea are getting even better. Even when top scorer Diego Costa was withdrawn in the thrashing of Schalke with a slight knock, his replacement Didier Drogba scored one goal and set up another.

Jose Mourinho’s team had been superb in the first half of their Premier League victory over West Bromwich Albion, but they were even better against Schalke and their old player and manager Roberto Di Matteo.

From taking the lead in just the second minute, Chelsea completely outplayed their German opponents with Cesc Fabregas, Willian and Eden Hazard all at their best.

Fabregas was particularly impressive from the middle of the park and had a hand in all three of Chelsea’s first-half goals. The fact Arsene Wenger did not want him back at Arsenal may well constitute a sackable offence in itself.

Clearly wanting to wrap up qualification from Group G before a busy December, Mourinho unsurprisingly fielded his strongest side and was richly rewarded.

Costa was put through on goal by Oscar in the opening 90 seconds, but Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann made a good save. From the resulting corner, Chelsea took the lead as a Fabregas delivery was headed into the net by captain John Terry.

The visitors should have given themselves a two-goal cushion just three minutes later, as another Fabregas corner fell invitingly to Branislav Ivanovic but the defender volleyed wastefully over the crossbar.

Chelsea were cutting though their opponents with ease and Costa caused more problems for the Schalke defence, but could not pick out a team-mate after charging into the penalty area.

The second goal was not long in coming, as Willian combined superbly with Eden Hazard to extend Chelsea’s lead just before the half-an-hour mark. Fabregas passed to Willian, who flicked the ball to Hazard and he played it straight into the path of the Brazilian who beat Fahrmann with a low shot.

Fahrmann may well be disappointed he did not keep Willian’s effort out, but the goal was a joy from a Chelsea perspective.

Costa seemed certain to add his name to the scorehseet when he rounded Fahrmann, who had rushed from his goal, but the striker slipped at the vital moment and was closed down.

Fabregas then found Oscar with a wonderful ball over the top of the defence and the midfielder’s volley was palmed out by Fahrmann. The Spaniard took the corner and Jan Kirchhoff comically headed into his own net to effectively hand Chelsea their passage into the knockout stages.

The only scare Mourinho’s men had suffered in the first half, was when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting tried his luck from 25 yards. The forward’s shot deflected off Gary Cahill and looped over Thibaut Courtois, but the ball rebounded back to safety off the crossbar.

Despite spending the majority of the opening period clapping the performance of the current Chelsea stars, the travelling supporters did not forget Di Matteo.

Di Matteo was Chelsea’s man for the big occasion as both a player and a manager. The former midfielder scored what was the fastest ever FA Cup final goal for Chelsea and netted the last FA Cup-winning goal at the old Wembley. He was also on target in the 1998 League Cup final.

As caretaker manager, Di Matteo won the FA Cup and, most famously, the Champions League with a penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich.

He was sacked six months later, despite being handed a two-year permanent contract, and was harshly airbrushed from Chelsea’s Champions League history as the club replaced his image on a wall at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea fans have been far more appreciative of Di Matteo’s contribution to the club and applauded in the 16th minute of matches following his dismissal to mark his old shirt number.

The supporters in Gelsenkirchen continued that tradition by singing ‘one Di Matteo in the 16th minute and received a wave of acknowledgement from the 44-year-old.

Di Matteo’s evening went from bad to worse after the break and Chelsea almost scored another brilliant goal with an hour gone. Willian linked up well with Hazard again and drilled in a cross that Ivanovic volleyed wide.

Shortly afterwards, Costa looked uncomfortable when he tried to beat Fahrmann from close range and appeared to signal to the bench that he needed to come off. Mourinho responded by sending on Drogba and Costa walked straight down the tunnel for treatment, although the Brazilian is expected to be fit to face Sunderland at the weekend.

The change did not knock Chelsea out of their stride, as Drogba tapped in a fourth goal in the 76th minute and then turned creator moments later for another substitute, Ramires, to head in a fifth.

It all seems a little bit too easy for Mourinho and his men right now.


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Times:

José Mourinho puts Roberto Di Matteo in his place as Chelsea turn on style

Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent, Gelsenkirchen

Schalke 0 Chelsea 5


Roberto Di Matteo remains a Chelsea legend, but there is only one Special One. José Mourinho had appeared determined all week to make a point to the man who has achieved the only thing the Portuguese has not at Stamford Bridge and his players obliged with a thumping win to confirm their qualification for the round of 16 as group winners.

Not for Chelsea the nervy last match that awaits Manchester City, Liverpool and possibly even Arsenal, although Mourinho’s side will have to beat far better teams than sorry Schalke before they get really excited about winning this competition again. Like many a much hyped title fight this clash between two Chelsea heavyweights was a total mismatch.

The west London side were simply too good, with their passing in particular being too quick, too incisive and too relentless, although in fairness to Schalke their performance would have been too good for most opponents. Bizarrely, the only thing Mourinho could quibble about afterwards was the quality of finishing. Had Diego Costa brought his shooting boots Chelsea would have threatened double figures.

Costa still played like a man possessed, as he always seems to, although for once it was left to others to grab the glory. John Terry set the tone for the evening by heading Chelsea in front after just 76 seconds before Willian and an own goal from Jan Kirchhoff wrapped the game up before half-time.

There was much else about Chelsea to admire, from the constant harrying of Nemanja Matic in midfield and exquisite passing of Cesc Fàbregas alongside him, to the speed and directness of Eden Hazard and Willian on the flanks, whose irrepressible running created more than enough opportunities for Costa to score his first Champions League goal for the club.

There seems to be something special developing at the heart of the Chelsea midfield, with Matic and Fàbregas forming a perfect marriage of hulking piano mover and virtuoso concert soloist. The Spaniard’s set-piece delivery was responsible for two of the goals, taking his tally of assists to 12 for the season and putting Thierry Henry’s record of 20 in a single campaign in his sights already.

Chelsea’s immediate reward is a stress-free final group game against Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge next month and the promise of a winnable round-of-16 tie next year, but Mourinho also took immense personal satisfaction from this emphatic victory.

His side were clearly up for it from the outset and after Costa had missed an early chance, took the lead in the second minute, with Fàbregas’s corner finding Terry, who headed in at the back post. Fàbregas almost created yet another goal three minutes later when Gary Cahill headed down his corner, but Branislav Ivanovic could only volley over the bar.

Chelsea endured one moment of alarm when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s shot was deflected on to the bar, but Costa spurned two more chances from close range before Willian doubled the lead in the 29th minute with an outstanding team goal. The move featured 24 passes, at the end of which the Brazilian exchanged passes with Hazard before racing into the penalty area, where he beat Ralf Fährmann, the goalkeeper at his near post.

Costa should have made it three in the 41st minute, but slipped as he bore down on goal and his close-range header was saved two minutes later, but Schalke’s relief was short-lived. The mere sight of Fàbregas standing over the ball was enough to induce panic in their defence, with Kirchhoff heading another corner into his own net.

Arsenal might have thrown away a three-goal in the final half-hour of a Champions League tie this month, but there was more chance of Arsène Wenger inviting Mourinho to Christmas lunch than Chelsea suffering a similar collapse. Drogba scored the fourth from close range in the 76th minute before crossing for Ramires, his fellow substitute, to head in a fifth 70 seconds later.

Di Matteo will have enjoyed the reminder of his special status at Chelsea, provided by the visiting fans singing his name, otherwise this was a night to forget as Mourinho put him firmly in his place.


Schalke (4-2-3-1): R Fährmann — A Uchida, B Höwedes, F Santana, D Aogo — R Neustädter, J Kirchhoff (sub: C Clemens, 46min) — M Höger, K-P Boateng (sub: M Meyer, 63), E M Choupo-Moting — K-J Huntelaar. Substitutes not used: C Wetklo, M Friedrich, L Sane, C Fuchs, T Barnetta. Booked: Höger.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): T Courtois — B Ivanovic, J Terry, G Cahill, C Azpilicueta — C Fàbregas (sub: A Schürrle, 78), N Matic — Willian, Oscar (sub: Ramires, 75), E Hazard — D Costa (sub: D Drogba, 66). Substitutes not used: P Cech, F Luis, K Zouma, J Obi Mikel.

Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).


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Mail:

Schalke 0-5 Chelsea:

Five-star Blues down Roberto di Matteo's men as John Terry, Didier Drogba and Willian all grab goals

By Matt Barlow


Brutal, utterly brutal. If Jose Mourinho’s dismissive pre-match comments about Roberto di Matteo’s glorious achievements seemed a little unkind then this was worse, much worse.

And how Mourinho will have savoured it because here was a performance to encapsulate the point he had been trying to make.

Winning the Champions League is all very well, he seemed to say on the eve of the game, but as a manager you can fluke it with a few good players and a bit of luck.

Building a powerful team, however, one capable of dominating over time and bulldozing all before them? That is a different matter. Mourinho has the ability and he knows it. He has demonstrated it before and he is well on the way to repeating it.

Smug? Perhaps, but this Chelsea team is something to be smug about. They are clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League and into the last 16 of the Champions League as Group G winners.

Fluent and mobile, last night they tore Di Matteo’s Schalke to shreds with goals from John Terry, Willian, Didier Drogba, Ramires and an own goal — all while barely conceding a chance. ‘Very impressive, very complete,’ purred Mourinho.

‘Top quality football for 90 minutes. Very compact, very strong defensively, no mistakes. The team was so solid. Everything under control and the result is a consequence of one team that played a fantastic match.”

Within the brutality there was beauty, the manager wanted to stress. ‘The players are very serious,’ he said. ‘Everything they do with big focus and ambition, but at the same time with this component which is something new in Chelsea football: this happiness, this flair, this beauty. The way they are doing things, we are very happy.’

For Di Matteo it must have been agony. From the moment Terry opened the scoring with a back-post header from a second-minute corner, the outcome was barely in question. At 1-0 Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting hit the bar from long range but after that the Londoners stretched the lead.

Schalke were diabolical in defence, listless in attack and booed and whistled by their own fans, which only made them more anxious.

The songs of support from Chelsea’s travelling support will have done little to ease the pain and humiliation for Di Matteo against the club he served so successfully as player and manager.

‘We are sorry for this performance,’ said Di Matteo. ‘We showed them too much respect. We weren’t aggressive enough, we didn’t put enough pressure on them, and they were ice cold. It was a super, clinical performance from them. We conceded too much space and they have players able to exploit that.’

By the end the Italian must have wished his technical area would open up and swallow him. Or that he had delayed his return to management until after this game.

‘The best comfort they can have is that they lost to the best team,’ said Mourinho. ‘They must be very sad with this result, but my experience tells me that when we lose against a team that is much better, then you have to accept it. It was not their fault. Move on, win the next match and keep going.’

That is the way Chelsea are going about their season.

Unbeaten for 19 games in all competitions, they have not lost since April. Next up: another former Blues favourite, Gus Poyet, at Sunderland, who will tremble if he studies this game too closely.

Chelsea’s second goal, from Willian, followed an exquisite move featuring Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas, although goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann ought to have done better with the shot.

The third crushed Schalke before the interval when Jan Kirchhoff headed into his own goal from another Fabregas corner. There was no yellow Chelsea shirt near Kirchhoff as he planted the ball into the top corner.

More jeers followed Schalke’s players down the tunnel. Di Matteo may be cherished by Chelsea fans, but he has work to do if he is to win hearts in Gelsenkirchen.

He made changes but Chelsea rolled on. Mourinho was able to take off Diego Costa, Oscar and Fabregas in the second half. Costa has a knock but is expected to be fit for Saturday’s game at Sunderland.

As the match went into the final 15 minutes, Drogba tapped in the fourth, teed up by Willian, and then set up the fifth with a cross for Ramires to score with his head.

Amid the emotion of Di Matteo and his reunion it was easy to overlook that Mourinho has his own special connection with Gelsenkirchen. It was here that he first won the Champions League with Porto, before walking out to take the job at Stamford Bridge.

Ten years on, he is building another team which seems capable of challenging for the prize.


SCHALKE (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann 4; Uchida 6, Santana 5, Neustadter 5, Howedes 5; Kirchhoff 4 (Clemens 46, 5), Hoger 6; Choupo-Moting 6.5, Boateng 4 (Meyer 64, 5), Aogo 5; Huntelaar 5. SUBS NOT USED: Wetkio, Fuchs, Friedrich, Clemens, Sane, Meyer, Barnetta.

BOOKINGS: Hoger

MANAGER: Roberto di Matteo 5.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6; Fabregas 7 (Schurrle 78, 6), Matic 7; Willian 7.5, Oscar 7 (Ramires 75, 6), Hazard 7; Costa 7 (Drogba 66, 6). SUBS NOT USED: Cech, Luis, Zouma, Ramires, Mikel.

BOOKINGS

MANAGER: Jose Mourinho 8.

MOM: Willian

REF: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) 6.


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Express:


Schalke 0 - Chelsea 5: Blues boss Jose Mourinho in love with the beautiful game

JOSE MOURINHO hailed his side as a ‘thing of beauty’ after they demolished Schalke to book their place in the last 16.

By: Graham Read in Gelsenkirchen


Chelsea captain John Terry scored the Blues’ fastest ever Champions League goal after 86 seconds against former manager Roberto Di Matteo’s new side Schalke and the Premier League leaders scored four more to win the group.

The night began all about Di Matteo, who was facing his old club where he starred as a midfielder before leading them to Champions League glory in 2012 before he was sacked just six months after his triumph in Munich.

By full-time it was all about Mourinho and Chelsea after a sensational display that would have sent a message around Europe. Just the way the Special One likes it.

After Terry struck, Willian added a wonder strike and Jan Kirchhoff a disastrous own- goal. Didier Drogba added a simple fourth and Ramires leapt to head home the fifth.

Mourinho, whose side stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games, said: “It was a very impressive performance. We are very confident. The players are very serious.

“Everything they do with big focus and ambition, but at the same time with this component, which is something new in Chelsea football: this happiness, this flair, this beauty.

“The way they are doing things, we are very happy. We are having good results and playing really well.

“Everything was under control and the result was the consequence of one team playing a fantastic match.”

Mourinho’s team made a blistering start. Diego Costa spurned a great chance to open his Chelsea account in Europe after a minute.

But it didn’t matter as from the resulting Cesc Fabregas corner Terry got the better of Benedikt Howedes far too easily to head Chelsea in front.

Branislav Ivanovic then headed over and Oscar was denied by a last-ditch tackle as Chelsea poured forward.

They looked capable of scoring at any time and proved it in the 29th minute when Willian finished off a stunning team goal that featured more than 20 passes by firing past Ralf Fahrmann, who should have done better. After that, Schalke went to pieces. In one comical episode, Costa failed to punish Marco Hoger’s horrible backpass when he slipped over.

Again they failed to sort themselves out after a lucky escape and in the 44th minute Kirchhoff headed into his own net from a Fabregas corner.

Schalke livened up but Chelsea almost added a fine fourth when Ivanovic volleyed wide. Costa then spurned another chance before being replaced by Didier Drogba. Drogba showed him how it should be done when he tapped in Willian’s pass and the striker then crossed for Ramires to head home.

For Di Matteo it all made for a night to forget two years after his famous triumph.

“Was it my most painful defeat? Yes,” he said. “But we did play against a really great team. If you concede too much space and time to those players, they’ll exploit that.”


SCHALKE (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann; Uchida, Howedes, Santana, Aogo; Neustadter, Kirchhoff (Clemens 45); Hoger, Choupo- Moting, Boateng (Meyer 63); Huntelaar. Booked: Hoger.

CHELSEA (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic; Willian, Fabregas (Schurrle 78), Oscar (Ramires 75), Hazard; Costa (Drogba 66). Goals: Terry 2, Willian 29, Kirchhoff 44og, Drogba 76, Ramires 78. NEXT UP: Sunderland (a), Saturday PL.

Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).


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Star:


Schalke 0 - Chelsea 5: Blues breeze into Champions League knockout stage

CHELSEA gave Roberto Di Matteo a Champions League night to remember two years ago.

By Adrian Kajumba


Last night, they gave him one he will be desperate to forget.

Jose Mourinho’s brilliant Blues wrecked Di Matteo’s reunion with his former club to clinch top spot in Group G.

Captain John Terry - with a record-breaking opener - Willian, Didier Drogba, Ramires and a Jan Kirchoff own goal powered the Blues into the knockout stages.

The Blues tore shambolic Schalke to pieces as Jose Mourinho proved once again there are few better party poopers in the business.

The night began all about Di Matteo who was facing his old club, where he starred as a midfielder before leading them to Champions League glory in 2012, for the first time since he was sacked just six months after his triumph in Munich.

By full-time it was all about Mourinho and Chelsea after a sensational display that would have sent a message right around Europe. Just the way the Special One likes it.

Shell-shocked Schalke boss Di Matteo was left with nothing but a smattering of ‘one Di Matteo’ tribute chants to console himself with from the travelling fans who will never forget his contribution as player and manager.

They would certainly have sounded better than the jeers he and his side received at the end of two horrible halves.

The only time Di Matteo, who took over at Schalke last month, had anything like an edge over Mourinho was before kick-off.

No doubt unimpressed by Mourinho dismissing his Champions League triumph in the build up, the Italian made the Chelsea boss wait until the very last second for a pre-match handshake that was less than welcoming.

Mourinho’s players dished out the revenge on behalf of their boss to extend their unbeaten run since the start of the season to 19 games.

With just one minute and 26 seconds on the clock they were in front.

Diego Costa, who had a rare off night, spurned his first great chance to open his Chelsea Champions League account after a minute.

But it didn’t matter as from the resulting Cesc Fabregas corner Terry got the better of Benedikt Howedes in the air far too easily to head Chelsea in front with the club’s quickest ever Champions League goal.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had a shot deflected onto the bar during a rare Schalke attack.

But Chelsea looked like scoring every time they raided forward and added a second on 29 minutes.

Willian finished off a stunning team goal that featured over 20 passes by firing past Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann, who should have done better, to make it 2-0.

After that Schalke really fell apart.

They had two huge escapes when Costa failed to punish Marco Hoger’s poor backpass and Oscar had a volley tipped wide.

But they failed to sort themselves out again and Kirchoff hoplessly headed the resulting corner into his own net a minute before half-time.

The usually deadly Costa limped off in the second half after blowing another opportunity but unluckily for Schalke his replacement Drogba was on form.

The Ivorian - scorer of the penalty that won Di Matteo the Champions League - tapped in his 50th European goal from Willian’s pass before teeing up fellow sub Ramires to nod in number five.

Schalke (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann; Uchida, Howedes, Santana, Aogo; Neustadter, Kirchhoff (Clemens 45); Hoger, Choupo-Moting, Boateng (Meyer 63); Huntelaar. Subs: Wetklo, Friedrich, Sane, Fuchs, Barnetta.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic; Willian, Fabregas (Schurrle 79), Oscar (Ramires 75), Hazard; Costa (Drogba 66). Subs: Cech, Luis, Zouma, Mikel.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)