Ranieri laments defensive blunders

By Trevor Haylett in London

Chelsea FC mananger Claudio Ranieri admitted that two defensive mistakes proved costly in his team's 2-0 defeat by Besiktas JK in UEFA Champions League Group G at Stamford Bridge.

Two blunders
The Italian coach likened the reverse - the London team's first since the summer takeover by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich - to the home loss suffered on Matchday 1 by English Premiership rivals Arsenal FC. "It was a bit like Arsenal versus Internazionale [FC]," he said. "When they shot for goal the ball always went in; whenever we attacked we could not score. We made two mistakes and when you give the opposing team chances in the Champions League it's very difficult to get back into the game."

Maiden away win
Besiktas, meanwhile, collected their first Champions League victory outside the Inönü stadium, the Turkish team having lost their previous six away games. Unsurprisingly, coach Mircea Lucescu was delighted. "We are very happy with this success," he said. "We pushed very hard in the first half and the counterattacking strategy worked well. Chelsea have fantastic players but they played against a very good team. We blocked most of their chances and our defence did well."

Perfect plan
Before the match the experienced Romanian coach urged his men to adopt the role of "protagonists", arguing that not even a draw would be a good result following their 2-0 home defeat by S.S. Lazio and Chelsea's 1-0 away win against AC Sparta Praha on Matchday 1. And the game plan of the Turkish Super League title-holders worked to perfection, with the guile of Sergen Yalçin, who settled the encounter with two first-half goals - bringing Ibrahim Üzülmez into play down the left whenever Besiktas attacked.

Normally relaible
It was Üzülmez's cross that Sergen turned powerfully towards goal for the opener, the ball appearing to go in off the hand of John Terry. The experienced midfield player then pounced on Colombian goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba's long punt and hooked in with his left foot after the normally reliable Chelsea shot-stopper Carlo Cudicini was caught in two minds as he advanced to the edge of his penalty box and failed to clear the danger.

Questionable decisions
Ranieri's team selection will undoubtedly be closely analysed in the light of the defeat, only the second home loss the London team have suffered in 41 European ties. He made five changes to the side which had extended their previously unbeaten run to nine matches last weekend against Aston Villa FC, using a three-man central defence for the first time. He left out top scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - even though he had struck in each of the past five games he had started - opting for Hernán Crespo and Adrian Mutu up front.

Staunch defence
But when Hasselbaink did come on after the break - alongside Damien Duff - he fared no better, although Besiktas must take their share of the credit. They defended staunchly and blocked a succession of shots, the Brazilian central defensive partnership of Zago and Ronaldo Guiaro proving a constant source of frustration. Chelsea, who remained on three points, can get back on track by defeating group leaders Lazio at home on 22 October while Lucescu's men will hope to produce another impressive performance against last-placed Sparta in the Czech Republic the same evening.