Made in Mourinho's image: Terry, Costa & Co. kickstart new Chelsea era

COMMENT: The Blues are on course to secure a domestic double after they triumphed in the League Cup final with a 2-0 victory against rivals Tottenham

By Greg Stobart at Wembley Stadium

John Terry once again lifted a trophy after a cup final wearing his full kit - but this time there is no need for internet jokes about the Chelsea captain.
You don't have to like him - a lot of football fans don't - but Terry showed why he is still one of the best around as he inspired Chelsea to glory in the League Cup final against rivals Tottenham here.
The Blues captain missed the Champions League final in 2012 and Europa League final a year later - but still donned his kit to lift the trophies, to much hilarity.
This time he climbed the steps in this famous stadium as a matchwinner after scoring Chelsea's opener just before half-time and leading the defence to a clean sheet in a classic Jose Mourinho-inspired performance.
It was not often pretty from west Londoners but the end result - their first trophy since Mourinho's return to the club - will have looked beautiful to the 31,000 Chelsea fans as they danced in the north London rain.
In the end, it was a comfortable victory for Mourinho's men, especially once they doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Kyle Walker's own goal as the Spurs defender deflected Diego Costa's strike into his own net.
For Mourinho, this is a first trophy in two and a half years and his first since returning to Chelsea in 2013. As he punched the air before the final whistle had even been blown, Mourinho's old swagger returned after his sour-faced complaints about officials, pundits and virtually everything else in recent weeks.
If last year he liked to portray his side as the "little horse", the team that he put out at Wembley were thoroughbreds, even without the suspended Nemanja Matic who was replaced brilliantly by Kurt Zouma.