Chelsea - Inter 16.03.2010

Without trying to making a hyperbolic statement, Chelsea's Champions League clash with Inter on Tuesday threatens to be the Blues' biggest game of the season.

The elusive trophy, that the west London side were a John Terry slipped penalty away from in 2008, would be the final piece in a silverware jigsaw that makes up the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet.

And fate dictates that it should be Jose Mourinho - the former king of Stamford Bridge - who should stand in Chelsea's way of another crack at Holy Grail of the Champions League.

Mourinho's Inter side carry a lead 2-1 from the first leg of this round-of-16 clash to his former stomping ground and will be keen to remind Chelsea fans he remains the 'Special One' - while at the same time trying to mastermind a first Italian capture of the trophy since 2007.

Inter have never lifted the Champions League trophy, since its re-branding in 1992, and an aggregate victory on Tuesday night would take the bullish Portuguese manager one step closer to winning the cup the Nerazzurri last claimed in 1965 when it was the European Cup.

The first leg victory for Inter exposed woeful cracks in a previously tight Chelsea defense, with John Terry looking a shadow of his former self, and since then Chelsea have stumbled domestically, losing handsomely to Manchester City before beating weak West Ham and Stoke sides less-than-convincingly.

Those results seem to have handed the initiative back to Manchester United in the Premier League, but Blues fans would walk the Premier League trophy to Old Trafford if it meant getting a hand on the European Cup.

Taking the cup back to west London would be validation for Roman Abramovich's millions poured into the club over the past few years, but losing out to their arrogant former boss will be hard to swallow.

News:

Chelsea

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will face the biggest test of his career when he lines up to face Inter, thanks to injuries to Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario. Turnbull was between the sticks for the 4-1 win over West Ham at the weekend and his only Champions League experience to date is a 2-2 draw with Greek minnows Apoel Nicosia.

There is better news for Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti in defense, where Ricardo Carvalho returns following a hamstring staring. Ancelotti has no fresh injury doubts elsewhere, with Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Jose Bosingwa (knee) all still sidelined for the Stamford Bridge return leg.

Last starting XI (v West Ham): Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Malouda, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba, Anelka.

Inter

Striker Mario Balotelli hasn't traveled with the team to London, although quite why remains a mystery to the temperamental Italian's agent. "I don't know why he has not been called up. I will find out," Mino Raiola vowed.

Meanwhile, Julio Cesar was involved in a minor car accident over the weekend but is expected to be fit to take his place in goal.

Defender Cristian Chivu is out with a fractured skull and David Santon has a knee problem, so Javier Zanetti will line up on the left side of defense.

Last starting XI (v Catania): Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Materazzi, Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Mariga, Sneijder, Milito, Eto'o.

PREDICTION

Chelsea's desperation to win the Champions League should see the Blues come out of the blocks strongly, roared on by a vociferous Stamford Bridge crowd. But Jose Mourinho is a man who knows what it's like to lift the trophy - having done so in 2004 with Porto - and also knows Chelsea almost as well a current boss Carlo Ancelotti does.

Chelsea's home record is impressive, but Inter know they have a simple task - stop the Blues, and more accurately Dider Drogba, from scoring and the tie is theirs.

It will be close, and it will be fiercely fought, but fortune seems to favor the Italians on this occasion.

source: goal.com

Inter - Chelsea Champions league match - Jose Mourinho quotes in croatian

Portugalac Jose Mourinho mogao je likovati nakon pobjede 2:1 u prvoj utakmici osmine finala Lige prvaka. Inter je bio bolji od Chelsea-ja.

"Startali smo od 0:0, sada je 2:1. To bi trebalo značiti da smo u prednosti, zar ne", rekao je Mourinho

"Nemojte zaboraviti da je Inter u zadnje vrijeme uvijek gubio prvu utakmicu u Ligi prvaka. Od Valencije, Liverpoola i Manchester Uniteda. Sada smo dobili, imamo zaleđe u prvih 90 minuta, ali to je samo prvo poluvrijeme. Čeka nas rješenje i odluka o svemu na Stamford Bridgeu. Isto tako, ne zaboravite da smo dobili momčad koja u zadnjih 14 utakmica Lige prvaka nije izgubila utakmicu. "

"Kontrolirali smo utakmicu. Znam da piše kako je Chelsea imao više udaraca, no osim grede Drogbe i prilike Lamparda ne sjećam se neke prave šanse Chelseaja. Mi smo ih imali malo više od njih", riječi su Portugalca uz zaključak: "Dolazak na Stamford Bridge će biti jako emotivan za mene, znam to jako dobro. No, tamo odlazim odraditi posao. Pobijediti."

"Nikada nisam izgubio na Stamford Bridgeu"

"Mourinho ne gubi na Stamford Bridgeu", progovorio je o sebi Jose Mourinho

"Jako sam sretan, naravno da jesam. Još odmah nakon ždrijeba sam isticao da kao profesionalac žarko želim pobijediti svoj bivši klub Chelsea. Želim ih pobijediti više od bilo koga drugoga"

izjavio je Mourinho

Nije se složio da je dvoboj na San Siru ponudio veliku taktičku bitku.

"Nije to bio nikakav taktički dvoboj, već tipična utakmica Lige prvaka između dva velika kluba odigrana na visokoj razini. Nismo ničime iznenadili, kao niti Chelsea. Samo smo odigrali veliku utakmicu, jedni i drugi. Igračima sam uoči dvoboja rekao:"Chelsea nije bolji od nas, samo je drukčiji. Oni imaju neke kvalitete koje mi nemamo, kao i obratno". Prema tome, mogao se očekivati rezultat 1-1, 2-1, 1-0 ili 0-1, kao i u većini utakmica u Ligi prvaka. U ovoj fazi ionako nitko nije pobijedio s dva gola razlike" – komentirao je portugalski strateg.

Mourinho nije dao precizan stav o prekršaju Interovog braniča Waltera Samuela nad Salomonom Kalouom u kaznenom prostoru domaćina u posljednjim trenucima prvog poluvremena, kod rezultata 1-0 za Inter."Događaj se zbio daleko od mene, nisam dobro vidio. A nisam još pogledao snimku na TV".

Inter - Chelsea Champions league match - Jose Mourinho Interview

Inter manager Jose Mourinho has received a three game ban and was fined 40,000 EURO after strongly criticising official persons

Jose Mourinho made "handcuffs" gesture after Inter's players Samuel and Cordoba were sent off and Samuel Eto'o got yellow card against Sampdoria.

The gesture has been interpreted as a way of suggesting his side have been victimised by referees in Serie A.

Mourinho had also insulted the officials at half-time on the way to the dressing room.

Samuel and Cordoba were both sent off in the first half of the match, while Eto'o was booked for allegedly diving.

When Eto'o received the yellow card, Mourinho sparked and while laughing he made the handcuffs gesture in front of photographers and TV cameras.

Mourinho - did not speak to the media after the match against Sampdoria.

Serie A officials said the punishment came after Mourinho had "repeatedly challenged the officials, especially by mimicking handcuffs with his wrists and arms crossed, and faced the crowds and television cameras... Also, he insulted the referee and his assistants in the tunnel and also repeatedly insulted officials."

"Each time there are over-the-top gestures or comments it creates exasperation," Italian Football Association president Giancarlo Abete told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport's website.

"This is a delicate phase of the season, we need respect for everyone else because over-excited football is no good."

Defenders Samuel and Cordoba received one-game bans for their dismissals but their Inter team-mates Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari were given two-match bans for off-the-field incidents in the fiery encounter.

Cambiasso was punished for trying to punch an opposition player in the tunnel at half-time, while Muntari swore at the fourth official.

Inter are five points ahead of Roma at the top of the Serie A.