Jose Mourinho breathed a huge sigh of relief after Chelsea grabbed a much-needed victory over Dynamo Kiev and saluted the club's supporters for standing by him through thick and thin.
The Blues were gifted the lead when Aleksandar Dragović headed into his own net but the Kiev star made amends by scoring an equaliser at the right end with 15 minutes to go.
Given Chelsea’s shambolic recent run, it would have been easy for heads to drop but the Premier League champions showed good character to battle on.
Willian, creator of the first goal, rattled home a stunning free-kick to restore the lead and secure the points and ease the pressure on his appreciative manager.
Mourinho said: “Big relief. I think the players deserved it. They have been Working so much and not getting the compensation for that hard work.
“We had a reaction and I had a very good bench with options. With 15 minutes to go, bringing Pedro and Hazard into the game gives the team confidence.
“I think it is fair to look to Willian with different eyes because of his work rate, his role in the first goal, and of course the phenomenal second goal.
Chelsea's dramatic win over Kiev in pictures:
“I think we had more confidence in the negative moment because the negative moment is always arriving for us every game and today to concede with 15 minutes to go, I think the team was strong mentally.
“He’s playing very well for a long time. I keep saying that many of the players are coming to their levels. Today, I think we were prepared for the negative moment.”
Chelsea supporters serenaded their manager with chants throughout the game, sending a clear message to owner Roman Abramovich, amid claims the Special One is on the brink of being dismissed.
Mourinho was overwhelmed by the kind gesture of the Stamford Bridge faithful and has vowed to keep fighting for the Blues cause.
He added: “What they did for me is not normal.
“Or maybe they don’t read papers or listen to television or they have a big heart or they recognise I’m a good professional, I brought great moments for the club and they have a great memory.
“Such a support is not normal, not just with the bad run of results but mentally with what people read in papers and see on television.
“I don’t know how to thank them. The only thing I can say, until my last day, I will give everything for them.”
