Schurrle says Chelsea critics 'just jealous'

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle. Reuters

Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle has reacted to criticism of his side's defensive approach in their 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday by branding the critics "jealous".
 
"Winning is what matters. It's the most important thing," the 23-year-old Germany international said, in comments published by several British newspapers on Tuesday.
 
"You can play perfect football, have lots of one-touch stuff, and you lose. But that's not what you want -- you want to win. There's no point in playing well and losing.
 
"If our plan is to win playing this way, and we win, then it is perfect. If people look at us and say, 'Chelsea can't play,' even when we win, it's just because they're jealous."  

Chelsea won at Anfield despite having only 27 percent of possession, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers complaining that his opposite number Jose Mourinho had "parked two buses" in front of the visitors' goal.
 
Rodgers also claimed that Chelsea's approach was "not difficult to coach", but Mourinho was unrepentant about his side's tactics, declaring: "The best team won."   Chelsea's win took them to within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with two matches of the season remaining.
 
On Wednesday, the London club host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, after a 0-0 draw in last week's first leg.