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JOSE MOURINHO will draw on all his experience as a Champions League
winner - and loser - as he attempts to guide Chelsea home against
Galatasaray tonight.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: Mourinho is a two-time winner of the Champions League
]
The Stamford Bridge boss has lifted the trophy with Porto and Inter Milan
But he has not won it with a Chelsea team he maintains is closest to his heart.
He has taken them to two semi-finals – both lost to Liverpool, by the infamous ‘ghost goal’ in 2005 and by penalties in 2007.
In between, he was turfed out at the same last 16 stage as tonight’s clash in Istanbul by Barcelona.
But he is relishing the challenge of taking on old rival Roberto
Mancini as well as the likes of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder.
“The beauty of this competition is the difference of styles,” he said.
“You play against a German team, then a Turkish team, then a Spanish team or Italian team.
“There is no predominant style.
“You have to adapt to the different styles and philosophies or impose your own.
“Then when it comes to the knockout stage, you add the pressure of the detail; the goal, the post, the offside, the mistake.
“It is great for people who are naturally competitive. The detail makes the difference. Because of one detail you lose and you’re out, or you win and you’re in.
THE GHOST GOAL: Mourinho was cursing his luck in 2005 when Luis Garcia's effort was allowed in dubious circumstances
“It’s great, a big challenge against the best players in the world, and normally the champions of every country.
“It’s a great competition but I’ve had very bad moments in it.
“I had semi-finals lost on penalties, a semi-final at Liverpool lost with a goal that was not a goal.
“Some really bad decisions against my teams that have been big influences on games.
“But I can also say that I have lived in the Champions League the best moments of my career.
“A career is made by good and bad moments and the Champions League is a big part of my career, for good and for bad.
“Every time I play in it I don’t feel it’s a challenge, it is something to enjoy.”
GOOD TIMES: Mourinho won the Champions League for a second time in 2010 after a previous success with Porto
But he still refuses to get too carried away by a team that is
looking ominously like the Chelsea of old he forged so successfully in
his first spell at the club.
“I keep saying this team is in a special period,” said the Chelsea manager yesterday.
“We still have some senior players, but lots of players without experience at this level.
“Some are playing the knockout stage for the first time, and this is where you face the top teams in the world.”
And the likes Drogba, for so long the leader of Mourinho’s Chelsea but now playing up front at Galatasaray.
“When you speak about Drogba and Wesley Sneijder, you are speaking about two of the best players in the world, two Champions League winners,” Mourinho added.
“Galatasaray are a very difficult side for us to play. They are very competitive, very physical, very aggressive.
“They will prefer a fighting, aggressive match. They play with strength and experience, with knowhow.
“For people like Oscar and Eden Hazard it will be an experience.
“To face Drogba, I know that is difficult. It’s a strange feeling for me. But we have to do our job. We know he will want to do his.”
Mourinho is set to bring David Luiz and Ramires back in to his midfield tonight after both missed Saturday’s win over Everton.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: Mourinho is a two-time winner of the Champions League ]
But he has not won it with a Chelsea team he maintains is closest to his heart.
He has taken them to two semi-finals – both lost to Liverpool, by the infamous ‘ghost goal’ in 2005 and by penalties in 2007.
In between, he was turfed out at the same last 16 stage as tonight’s clash in Istanbul by Barcelona.
“The beauty of this competition is the difference of styles,” he said.
“You play against a German team, then a Turkish team, then a Spanish team or Italian team.
“There is no predominant style.
“You have to adapt to the different styles and philosophies or impose your own.
“Then when it comes to the knockout stage, you add the pressure of the detail; the goal, the post, the offside, the mistake.
“It is great for people who are naturally competitive. The detail makes the difference. Because of one detail you lose and you’re out, or you win and you’re in.
THE GHOST GOAL: Mourinho was cursing his luck in 2005 when Luis Garcia's effort was allowed in dubious circumstances
“It’s a great competition but I’ve had very bad moments in it.
“I had semi-finals lost on penalties, a semi-final at Liverpool lost with a goal that was not a goal.
“Some really bad decisions against my teams that have been big influences on games.
“But I can also say that I have lived in the Champions League the best moments of my career.
“A career is made by good and bad moments and the Champions League is a big part of my career, for good and for bad.
“Every time I play in it I don’t feel it’s a challenge, it is something to enjoy.”
GOOD TIMES: Mourinho won the Champions League for a second time in 2010 after a previous success with Porto “I keep saying this team is in a special period,” said the Chelsea manager yesterday.
“We still have some senior players, but lots of players without experience at this level.
“Some are playing the knockout stage for the first time, and this is where you face the top teams in the world.”
And the likes Drogba, for so long the leader of Mourinho’s Chelsea but now playing up front at Galatasaray.
“When you speak about Drogba and Wesley Sneijder, you are speaking about two of the best players in the world, two Champions League winners,” Mourinho added.
“Galatasaray are a very difficult side for us to play. They are very competitive, very physical, very aggressive.
“They will prefer a fighting, aggressive match. They play with strength and experience, with knowhow.
“For people like Oscar and Eden Hazard it will be an experience.
“To face Drogba, I know that is difficult. It’s a strange feeling for me. But we have to do our job. We know he will want to do his.”
Mourinho is set to bring David Luiz and Ramires back in to his midfield tonight after both missed Saturday’s win over Everton.
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