Mourinho said progress was more important than the result

The Blues reached the knock-out stages despite losing, but Ballack and Drogba suffered knocks ahead of the trip to Manchester United on Sunday.

"Ballack's injury is nothing special. It is just pain, the opponent put his studs on his muscle," he said.

"Didier is the same. He has a pain in the ankle but it is nothing serious."

News conference: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Mourinho admitted their first defeat of the season in Europe "was not a super game by Chelsea", but said the fact they had secured their place in the next round was more important.

"I am never happy with a defeat but this is different because we have still qualified for the second stage of the competition," he said.

"But to go into the last game of the group stage having already qualified is an achievement. That is very important."

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"I think we showed that we wanted to get something in every moment of the game. Nobody can say we didn't come here and play this seriously.

"I felt we were not lucky with the small details.

"It was not a free-kick that led to the corner and their goal, and maybe we deserved a draw, but Bremen showed spirit and enthusiasm and got the three points."

In the final round of group games, Chelsea are at home to Levski Sofia, while Barcelona must beat Bremen to join the Blues in the knock-out stages.