Chelsea manager, players revel in long-overdue victory

Oh what a feeling, being's believing.  We can have it all, now we're dancing for our lives.

"I forgot the feeling (of winning). For so long we didn't win. It's so good."

-Jose Mourinho; source: Evening Standard

Indeed, Jose.  In-deed.

You take your passion and make it happen.  The pictures come alive, and you're dancing right through your life.

Great win. Fans were great #CFC pic.twitter.com/wVdAxAGiWU

— Ruben Loftus-Cheek (@rubey_lcheek) September 16, 2015

You hear the music, close your eyes, feel the rhythm wrap around, and take hold of your heart.

"It's a big confidence boost. We knew we needed a win and it was the perfect game for us. It was a convincing win and a clean sheet. That was everything we were looking for."

-Gary Cahill; source: BT Sport via FourFourTwo

There were similar happy reactions from Cesc Fabregas, Cesar Azpiliuceta, Baba Rahman, and I'm sure all the rest as well.  And sure, as Mourinho says, we weren't playing Real Madrid or Barcelona, but a win's a win's a win.  And seeing as how this just our second (in regulation) in all manner of competition since the start of preseason, it's little wonder that we're all a bit overjoyed.

"The penalty we missed was a big test for us because when everything has gone against you - red cards, penalties against you, decisions, bad luck, injuries - and you start a game you have to win and after five minutes miss a penalty, it's a great test of the character of the players and the team. It was good we had an extra negative episode and the reaction was very good.

"The team had a big determination to be a bit different and to show a different state of mind. I'm happy with the performance and the result. The team was more aggressive with and without the ball. The pressing was much stronger. The lines were closer together. There was a very good reaction when we lost the ball to try to recover it immediately; to try to force the mistake in the opponent instead of waiting for their mistakes."

"We moved the ball very well. Fabregas and Loftus-Cheek gave speed to the team. The ball was quickly leaving defensive areas and reaching attacking players. We played well. I know we didn't beat Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich but we beat a team that arrived here having deserved to beat Basel and coming here to make it difficult for us. It was not difficult because we played so well."

-Jose Mourinho; source: Chelsea FC

We don't have to wait too long to see if we can translate this performance to a more difficult opponent.  (Though Arsenal did not look good at all in their match against Dinamo Zagreb, he said seriously in the banter-free zone.)  Last season Mourinho complained repeatedly that his squad players did not give him any selection problems, did not challenge for the first-choice spots when given the opportunity.  On Wednesday, several players, including young Ruben Loftus-Cheek made a strong claim for more minutes.  Let's see how Mourinho deals with this lovely problem to have.

Winning!  Oh what a feeling!