Jose Mourinho dropped Eden Hazard for Wednesday’s Champions League win over Schalke as a punishment for missing training on Monday.

The Belgium forward was a surprise omission from the squad – and Mourinho confirmed his decision was prompted by the forward failing to make Monday’s session.

It is understood Hazard, who played in the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle on Saturday, travelled to Lille on Sunday morning for a reunion with his former team-mates and to watch his ex-club take on Monaco later that evening.

Hazard was due to board an early Eurostar train back to London on Monday morning in time to report for training at Chelsea’s Cobham HQ, but did not make it. And Mourinho confirmed: ‘He missed training on Monday. He forgot the time? That’s the end of story. He’s a kid.

‘Kids make mistakes and fathers have to be clever in the way they educate their sons. He didn’t play. He wanted to play. ‘He was sad because he didn’t play. We won without him. On Saturday, he is back. So, end of story.’

Mourinho wielded the axe last night after the weekend horror show at St James’ Park, making five unforced changes. David Luiz, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard were among those who were benched. ‘It’s nothing to do with dropping this one or that one,’ added Mourinho. ‘It’s to do with their mentality, and they were strong.

‘After the Basle defeat we’d put ourselves in a difficult situation, so it’s fantastic that after the fourth fixture we have almost qualified.’ Samuel Eto’o scored twice and Demba Ba once in Chelsea’s 3-0 Group E win in the absence of Fernando Torres, who was unavailable with a leg injury.

Chelsea are now on nine points, three clear of nearest rivals Schalke in the standings with two games to play. The victory was a strong response to the Newcastle loss, which ended a six-match winning run.

— Daily ail