Champions League last 16 second leg: Chelsea v Inter Milan
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Tuesday, 16 March
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Right, here we go then, Jose Mourinho’s first game at Stamford Bridge since he left and he’s milked the publicity for all it’s worth. I know, I know, it’s very unlike our shy and retiring former manager but there you go.
Inter Milan come into this game with a 2-1 aggregate lead over us from the first leg and despite their 3-1 defeat to Calcio Catania Friday, Mourinho seems to be as confident as ever. Obviously the fact that they managed a marginal win at the San Siro despite us being the better side on the night gives him reason for optimism but I’m sure even his confidence must have been a little shaken to see how comfortable our 4-1 win over West Ham was at the weekend.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
For all Mourinho’s confidence and his expectations of having the upper hand at Stamford Bridge, Carlo Ancelotti isn’t letting it worry him too much, stating “For Mourinho, it’ll be a special evening. The fans will give him a very good reception, one he deserves. But the match will be another thing. The players are not involved in other things. All the Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on the game, an important game. The other things they’re not interested in. Jose has great experience. He has won the Champions League and won a lot of titles in different countries. The difference in this game will be the different play, the different confidence, the difference courage and personality that the teams put out on the pitch. That will be the difference. I hope there will be a third English club in the quarter-finals. Arsenal and Manchester United did a good job. Now we have to do the same on Tuesday.”
As for Jose Mourinho, he suggests “Everybody knows Mourinho doesn’t lose at Stamford Bridge. My record is unbeatable. It is amazing….blah….blah….blah.”
SQUAD NEWS
For us, Michael Essien (knee), Jose Bosingwa (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Petr Cech (calf) and Henrique Hilario (abductor) all remain out. Ricardo Carvalho returns from a hamstring injury.
For Inter, Thiago Motta (thigh), Marko Arnautovic (flu) and Balotelli (knee) all look set to miss out.
TEAM
CHELSEA (from): Turnbull, Taylor, Ivanovic, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Malouda, Terry, Carvalho, Borini, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge.
PREDICTION
Bloody hell, who knows which way this one will go? Obviously Mourinho’s spouted on enough about his record at Stamford Bridge but I’m hoping that was then and this is now. We showed enough at the San Siro to convince me we have enough in our locker to beat them, particularly at home so I just hope we take this opportunity to shut him up.
Blue is the colour
