Why I benched Mikel- Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has explained his exclussion of Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Jon Obi from the starting line up, saying the player was down with flu.

The battling midfielder later came on in the
second half to replace Frank Lampard as
Chelsea looked to keep their 2-1 lead safe.

He said: "Mikel had started the last two
games during the holiday period and he also had flu," explained Mourinho after the hard- fought win over Liverpool.

Mourinho also said he expected Cameroon
star Samuel Eto'o to adapt quicker to the
fast pace of the EPL. "The sooner he
adapts, the better. I have told him so," said
the coach while defending some late tackles by the striker against Liverpool.

Eto'o scored the match winner for 'The
Blues' on Sunday, but TV replays showed he gave away a penalty for a cynical charge on Luis Suarez right inside the Chelsea box, which referee Howard Web did not award.

Chelsea with 40 points from 19 matches are
two points behind leaders Arsenal, while
Liverpool drop to fifth place.