Jose Mourinho gloats as Inter edge out Chelsea

Inter Milan 2 Chelsea 1. Different club - but the same old Jose. The Inter Milan manager couldn't resist a dig at his former team, minutes after Chelsea had gone down 2-1 in the first leg of this Champions League tie. Asked if the one-goal advantage was enough to take to London in three weeks' time, the Portuguese poseur smiled mischievously and said: "Everyone knows that normally Mourinho is lucky at Stamford Bridge."

Unfortunately for Blues fans, 'the Special One' has the stats on his side: in three years as Chelsea boss between 2004 and 2007 he lost just one match at home.

But though Inter will arrive in London looking to use last night's victory as the launchpad from which to progress to the quatrer-finals, Chelsea will fancy their own chances after scoring a crucial away goal in an exhilarating match at the San Siro.

Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka troubled the Inter back four time and again and the Italians – who, going into last night's encounter, had won just once in their last seven matches – looked anything but rock solid as they allowed the visitors 18 attempts at goal, eight of which were on target.

Nonetheless Inter came away with the win thanks to goals from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasson, though at one point it seemed as if the hosts were on course to hammer their English opponents. With three minutes gone the Italians surged down the right flank with Thiago Motta finding Samuel Eto'o, who then threaded the ball to Wesley Sniejder. His sweet pass was collected by Diego Millito and the Argentine frontman stepped inside John Terry and unleashed a shot that left Petr Cech no chance

Chelsea regrouped with Drogba rifling a free-kick against the Inter bar on 15 minutes and Michael Ballack keeping Inter keeper Julio Cesar on his toes with a stinging drive from outside the box. The Blues claimed a penalty five minutes before half-time when Lucio appeared to give Branislav Ivanovic a mighty shove in the Inter area, but referee Gonzalez turned a blind eye. Five minutes after the interval Chelsea were level after Kalou curled the ball past Cesar from 20 yards out.

Inter's response was swift. Sneijder sent a rasping shot towards the Chelsea goal that was cleared only as far as Cambiasso. His first attempt was blocked by Terry but Cambiasso made no mistake second time round, sending the rebound into the bottom corner for the decisive goal.

"Looking at what happened tonight I believe we have quite a lot of chances to go through," said Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti afterwards. "We can say that we were unlucky and we hope it will be better in the next game. I believe that we played quick and well and although the result is not that positive, it's not so bad. I think we will play attacking football again in the second leg."

As for ‘the Special One', he was uncharacteristically gracious in victory, paying tribute to the "professional" approach of Chelsea and admitting that it will be strange to return to west London. "I have to control my emotions," Mourinho said. "This time I go back to a different dressing room and dugout." And then came the dig, along with the smile - a smile that Chelsea will hope to wipe off his face in three weeks' time. ·