Lesson One, for the ''Special One'': there's no place for sentiment in football. As Mourinho knows, more than anyone, making a false start in the quest for the ultimate European glory is not necessarily fatal.
Both in 2003, when he was at Porto, and six years later with Inter, opening group phase draws were followed by sheer delight eight months later.
But if Chelsea are to be running round Berlin's Olympic Stadium in triumph in May, if their fans will be congregating in front of the Brandenburg Gate, they will need to be watching Diego Costa, not Didier Drogba.
Last night, as Mourinho handed a first Chelsea start since Munich to Drogba, leaving both Costa and Loic Remy on the bench until it became desperation time, the price was paid.
That this was a game Chelsea should have won, especially after Cesc Fabregas took advantage of the brilliance of Eden Hazard and a terrible decision to put them in front.
But where once Drogba would have taken at least one, if not all, of the chances that came his way, he suddenly looked like a 36-year-old.
The ankle injury that had hampered the Ivorian may have been a factor but not an excuse.
Drogba knew he should have done better than head Felipe Luis' cross straight at Schalke keeper Ralf Fahrmann.
His body language showed that he recognised that the two misses after the break, failing to make any contact with Willian's driven cross – he tried to score with a Zola-style flick – and then taking a heavy touch before firing Hazard's glorious pass wide of the far post, were more disappointing, and far more costly.
Not that Drogba was the only one at fault, as Chelsea's bright start evaporated before the late storm came to nothing as the injury-strapped Germans clung on to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's leveller.
Fabregas had done superbly to put his side in front, even if he clearly fouled Max Meyer in the build-up.
When Hazard's brilliant dribble ended with a reverse pass, the Spaniard was on hand to sweep home his first since returning to English football.
But it was Fabregas who spooned over the top from Branislav Ivanovic, as the Germans were on the ropes, ready for the knock-out blow.
Instead, still in it, Schalke found a second wind.
Kevin-Prince Boateng and Julian Draxler could have equalised before the interval and following that brace of Drogba misses, they were on terms.
Huntelaar probably fouled Fabregas yet it was still 70 yards from the Chelsea goal and the Spaniard could hardly complain.
And it was Chelsea's failure to get back properly that was punished as the Dutch striker got on the end of the counter and found the bottom corner.
Mourinho, forced to face up to his error, sent on both Costa and Remy.
The French striker's first touch, after keeper Ralf Fahrmann flapped, was kept out by a goalline clearance.
Twice Hazard thought he'd stolen it, volleying too high before Fahrmann saved bravely and right at the death, skipper John Terry was kept out by the man on the post. Too little, too late.
Source: Mirror UK
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