Sports

Juan Mata believes that Chelsea's UEFA Champions League bid is 'not dead' despite their 3-1 defeat to Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 clash.

Mata put Chelsea 1-0 up in the Stadio San Paolo before Ezequiel Lavezzi's double and an Edinson Cavani goal turned things around, making for a hugely testing return at Stamford Bridge on 14th March.

The defeat is sure to increase the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas, who has seen his side slip out of the top four in the Premier League in recent weeks, prior to Saturday's home draw with Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup.

Villas-Boas' team selection raised eyebrows as he left Frank Lampard and Michael Essien on the bench, but he could not be held responsible for the defensive blunders from Raul Meireles, Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz which gifted Napoli their goals.

Chelsea were able to create plenty of chances, but could only find a way past Morgan De Sanctis once, with Mata admitting he expected an end-to-end encounter.

Very strong

The Blues' scorer told Sky Sports: "One-nil would have been an excellent result for us but we didn't keep it.

"Napoli are a very strong team in this stadium but now we have the second game and we are going to put in 100 per cent at the Bridge.

"I knew it would be an open game because Napoli are offensive with three players, Cavani, Lavezzi and (Marek) Hamsik who are very fast on the counter-attack.

"But today we had a lot of chances to score and we will have to convert those chances at the Bridge.

"I have confidence in this team, we are not dead. It will not be easy for us but I think we can do it."

"I have confidence in this team, we are not dead. It will not be easy for us but I think we can do it."

Juan Mata