Chelsea are 'weaker' than other Champions League teams, claims Jose Mourinho

The Blues topped their group thanks to a comfortable win over Porto

Chelsea may be languishing in the Premier League but captain John Terry insisted they would be ‘feared’ when the draw for the Champions League knock-out stages is held on Monday. However, his manager, Jose Mourinho, disagreed insisting teams would want to be paired with Chelsea.

"They don't want to play Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or Bayern. They want to get us or Zenit because they think we are weaker," said Mourinho, omitting the other seeded team, Manchester City.

“A lot of teams will be fearing us,” said Terry of the draw for the round of 16. Chelsea will face either Paris St Germain, who knocked them out last season, Manchester United’s conquerors PSV Eindhoven, Juventus, who have beaten Manchester City this season, Roma, Benfica or Gent. “We will see what comes our way,” added Terry. “If we can continue form like that this then it can be a springboard.”

Chelsea qualified with a comfortable 2-0 win over Porto and Terry said: “We gave a big performance, we're delighted. With our league form being as it is, the fans needed this performance and the players needed it. In the Premier League I think we have lacked a bit of confidence but not in the Champions League. We have been fluent and dangerous and we saw that again tonight. Now we go to Leicester on Monday, which will be difficult, but we need to try and replicate this performance."

Chelsea’s first goal was a fortunate own goal (the second was scored by Willian), which was correcty adjudged by the fifth official to have just crossed the line. Manager Mourinho said: “The first goal was always going to be important. When we get that the picture is different, the players are more calm. It was a good move and a good save from Iker Casillas but we had luck with the rebound. Luck is part of the game. We are not lucky in the Premier League. In the Premier League every detail goes against us. A great decison but the official on the line, we do not get that in the Premier League even though we have goalline technology. At West Ham the ball looked as if it was over the line.”

He added of the match: “It was an important result for the players and the club. The players were really committed to get a result, as much for their pride. I am very happy the players accepted the challenge to play to win even when we only needed a draw, whic is not easy when confidence is not high. They didn't want to go to the Europa League. The players were compact and always had initiative, they tried to win even when the draw would have been enough. They deserved to win.”

“What gives me confidence is we are playing OK in the last couple of months, the results are not as good as the work we do every day and the results are not as good as we are playing.”

Mourinho also backed Diego Costa who missed several chances. ""He could have scored two or three goals. He has a clear lack of confidence but his attitude is very good: his effort, his commitment, his great movement, which he did not have for two months before."

Mourinho was given a ringing endorsement from Porto coach Julen Lopetgui who said: “Jose Mourinho is one of the best coaches in history. I am sure he is the man to continue at Chelsea.”