Champions League preview: Chelsea v. Porto
Tuesday, 06 March 07, 09:48 PM · Comments (8)
Will this season be the last chance Jose Mourinho gets to win the Champions League with Chelsea? It might just be; the winds of change appear to be picking up velocity at Stamford Bridge.
"If the club decides to sack me because of bad results, that's part of the game. If that happens, I'll be a millionaire and I will get another club a couple of months later. I have a happy family, my kids are healthy, I have a lot of friends and I live a good life," Mourinho said in yesterday's pre-match press conference.
His words give the impression that Roman Abramovich will use failure to deliver the Champions League this season as a reason to show him the door.
But what better way to prevent such a scenario from arising than to win the competition, starting with a victory over Porto at the Bridge this evening.
Andriy Shevchenko's valuable away goal at Estadio do Dragao a fortnight ago means a 0-0 draw will secure Chelsea's place in the quarter-finals on the away goals rule.
Porto will be hoping John Terry's absence gives them a better chance of breaching the Blues' defence in their 100th Champions League game - Jesualdo Ferreira's side did score on their previous visit to the Bridge in September 2004.
Michael Essien has done a sterling job at the back in Terry's absence and may well be called upon again, although Khalid Boulahrouz has recovered from a dislocated shoulder and could be recalled alongside ex-Porto star Ricardo Carvalho.
Ferreira will be without right-back Jose Bosingwa who suffered a thigh injury in his team's 1-0 win over Sporting Braga at the weekend. Slovakian Marek Cech is expected to take his place.
Porto have knocked English teams out of Europe on three occasions, including Manchester United twice, most recently when Mourinho was in charge in 2004 and they went on to win the Champions League.
But the champions of Portugal have never won a game on English soil.
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Ballack has shown simply sublime finish!!!!!!!!!!!!
So glad we got through - but we played horribly in the forst half.
Robben got a deserved booking for diving - when will he grow up and stop being so selfish in his play.
Ballack got the winner but i thought he was invisible for the rest of the game. I am amazed that we played so badly but still won.
That said - damn glad we did win!!
The second plus of the night is that the scum form Barca are out - wow didn't they play badly against the the Yankee Pool.
God bless Roman's Blue Army!!
Fantastic response after 1 goal down even though i was on the edge of my seat and Essien was superb in defence again today.was also impressed with Mikel after coming on for Makele.
All in all, the winning goal was a delight to watch . it was the first time drogba and sheva cooperated and this worries me now.
How many times did both of them have the ball and were only selfish to look for the goal........Good teams need to take their chances by playing as a team rather than for personal glories.
All said, wonderful goal and sweet victory in the end and i have never seen a jittery keep like porto's keeper in mi life!
Ballack must have read my rating for Saturday because thats the best game he's had for us so far. However the Ballack and Lampard question now strats to rival the Lampard/Gerrard conundrum. Frank was poor again tonight....or was he? Does he just appear anonymous when Ballack is playing and contribute a lot? If he does then I must be missing a trick.
Ashley Cole was exceptional tonight which may well prove my point that he wasn't quite match fit on Saturday. Sheva was also excellent - his off the ball work was magnificent and some of his touches were just sublime. Top marks to Obi Mikel as well - a young lad who's confidence grows with each game. I think I can see what JM saw in him now.
Not much else to say, except that my blood pressure was not at its best during the game. Who do I fancy next? Well part of me wants Liverpool because we owe them in cup matches, but we play them too often so I would plump for Valencia.
Ballack was anonymous in the first half but quite improved in the second.Great move in front of the goal and excellent finish.Big man for big moments!
Credits to Mikel whose presence in the midfield made us play a lot better in the second half.
I think Roma would be a good draw in the quarter finals.No Scoucers...not yet!
Tony am going to be frank with you...Frank Lampard is at his worst game right now and it is affecting the play.
I wrote and said that his link play is not that good as witnessed last night... He is the reason that Ballack is playing badly...His movement off the ball and ball handling skills are very erratic...I think a rest would be good for him...
The midfield should have the following Ballack Essien Diarra and Obi...On current form Lampard is the worst midfielder at chelsea...That is the fact!
He is now running around too much and not getting involved in the play effectively...His crosses are also getting awful...
He needs a rest! or maybe it is the captain's arm band? Some players can not seem to handle it well (Read Henry at Arsenal) But TSO has to do something about his game.
Ashley Cole also played well because he had a game at Portsmouth to help get back in stride and that is why TSO likes playing him. In the format we are employing with the 442 diamond or 433 format we only have one winger employed...TSO is intending to have the wing backs to come into play and deliver in the crosses while pressing the opponents in the box. Will Ballack, Drogba and Shevy's aerial power the opponent would be totally exposed and Lampard is expected to be at the D waiting for those knock backs to drive in any loose balls.
That is how I have viewed TSO's game plan and it is working very well for us...
The Man of the Match for me was Mr. Mourinho period.
8 Comments · Add yours
Don't worry about what Jose said. Some hack ask him what will he do if he gets the sack and Jose answered him with his usual sincerety. But the press tries to spin it like it's Jose that is trying to get sacked or something. It's all part of the obvious campaing by the media to get Jose the boot. I mean how stupid you have to be to believe in this sh*t.
Enjoy the game all - limited coverage on German TV for me again unfortunately. Hope the bugger that's in my seat in the MHU sings up!