Chelsea ready for big guns, says Mourinho
Manager prepares for quarters after Galatasaray win.
Chelsea players celebrate English defender Gary Cahill's goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea and Galatasaray at Stamford Bridge in London, on March 18, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea have no fears about facing one of Europe’s super-powers in the Champions League after his side strolled into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray.
Mourinho’s team barely had to break sweat to see off lacklustre Galatasaray in the last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday as first half goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The score line didn’t do justice to Chelsea’s dominance, but sterner tests lie ahead for the Premier League leaders, with the likes of holders Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain already through to the last eight.
But Mourinho is confident his players can hold their own against anyone and he expects they would relish the chance to knock out one of the giants of the European scene.
“All the big teams are there, all the big candidates to win the competition. We welcome any of them,” Mourinho said.
“It will be very good for our evolution as a team if we can play one of the best. We wait for the draw.”
While the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are enjoying their first serious assault on Europe’s elite club prize, few managers are more battle-hardened when it comes to the latter stages of the competition than Mourinho.
The Portuguese has already won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.
Asked if he felt his impressive European pedigree would make Chelsea a feared opponent even in such illustrious company, Mourinho for once declined to blow his own trumpet and instead praised his players for a composed and clinical display.
“It was a very good performance. We were solid and compact with no fears,” he said.
“We were very much in control. We had the best chances and maybe the result could have been bigger because we were much better than Galatasaray.”
Jese will be missed, admits Ancelotti
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti lamented 21-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez’s luck after he suffered cruciate ligament damage in his right knee during his side’s 3-1 win over Schalke on Tuesday.
Victory ensured Real’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League 9-2 on aggregate; however it came at a cost as Jese will undoubtedly miss the rest of the season and is expected to be side-lined for at least six months.
“He has had bad luck and it is bad luck for Real Madrid because we are going to lose a very important, young player,” said Ancelotti. “Injuries are part of a footballer’s career and we are going to help raise him to comeback stronger next season. He will return to being an important player for Real Madrid”
Jese’s injury meant that Gareth Bale was worked more than expected just five days before Sunday’s crucial La Liga clash with Barcelona as he was introduced after just eight minutes.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.
Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea have no fears about facing one of Europe’s super-powers in the Champions League after his side strolled into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray.
Mourinho’s team barely had to break sweat to see off lacklustre Galatasaray in the last-16 second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday as first half goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The score line didn’t do justice to Chelsea’s dominance, but sterner tests lie ahead for the Premier League leaders, with the likes of holders Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain already through to the last eight.
But Mourinho is confident his players can hold their own against anyone and he expects they would relish the chance to knock out one of the giants of the European scene.
“All the big teams are there, all the big candidates to win the competition. We welcome any of them,” Mourinho said.
“It will be very good for our evolution as a team if we can play one of the best. We wait for the draw.”
While the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are enjoying their first serious assault on Europe’s elite club prize, few managers are more battle-hardened when it comes to the latter stages of the competition than Mourinho.
The Portuguese has already won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.
Asked if he felt his impressive European pedigree would make Chelsea a feared opponent even in such illustrious company, Mourinho for once declined to blow his own trumpet and instead praised his players for a composed and clinical display.
“It was a very good performance. We were solid and compact with no fears,” he said.
“We were very much in control. We had the best chances and maybe the result could have been bigger because we were much better than Galatasaray.”
Jese will be missed, admits Ancelotti
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti lamented 21-year-old forward Jese Rodriguez’s luck after he suffered cruciate ligament damage in his right knee during his side’s 3-1 win over Schalke on Tuesday.
Victory ensured Real’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League 9-2 on aggregate; however it came at a cost as Jese will undoubtedly miss the rest of the season and is expected to be side-lined for at least six months.
“He has had bad luck and it is bad luck for Real Madrid because we are going to lose a very important, young player,” said Ancelotti. “Injuries are part of a footballer’s career and we are going to help raise him to comeback stronger next season. He will return to being an important player for Real Madrid”
Jese’s injury meant that Gareth Bale was worked more than expected just five days before Sunday’s crucial La Liga clash with Barcelona as he was introduced after just eight minutes.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.