UNITED KINGDOM: CHELSEA PREPARE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL MATCH AGAINST LIVERPOOL

Record ID: 338339

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: CHELSEA PREPARE FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL MATCH AGAINST LIVERPOOL
  • Date: 2nd May 2005
  • Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 2, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA TRAINING FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL AGAINST LIVERPOOL ON TUESDAY 2. CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO AT NEWS CONFERENCE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO SPEAKING: "I think the pressure is on them. I think we go back to London as heroes. I think my players, independent of the result tomorrow, when they go to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to play against Charlton they will go for a big celebration and they will be received by the fans like heroes because they gave them a Championship (premier league title) and I can imagine Anfield Road tomorrow if they (Liverpool) lose I can imagine the meaning for their supporters so I think the pressure is on them" 4. CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO AT NEWS CONFERENCE 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO SPEAKING: "I think it's a better feeling than Chelsea players and managers they have had in the last 49 years. It is better to go back with the Premiership than to go back with nothing in hand. When we left London to come to the north we come with two objectives: go back Champions and go back to play the Champions League final. One we already have, the other one we will see" 6. NEWS CONFERENCE 7. CHELSEA GOALKEEPERR PETER CECH AT NEWS CONFERENCE 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA GOALKEEPERR PETER CECH SAYING: "I think it was the most pleasure to win the game against Bolton (Premiership title) for us and we know that we have been working for the title and now we won the title, so we can play without the pressure of the championship and we can just concentrate for the game tomrorrow" 9. NEWS CONFERENCE 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA GOALKEEPERR PETER CECH SAYING: "I don't think we played such different games, in the previous leg against Bayern Munich I think we played well but we couldn't stop conceding goals and this last few games we came back and we kept clean sheets. I think that we all know that we can do it because we've been doing that all season" 11. CHELSEA TRAINING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA7HJA05G7OR85GYHU1GKQDFQV6
  • Story Text: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says team are heroes
    even if they lose against Liverpool in Champions League
    semi-final.



    Jose Mourinho has eased the pressure on his Chelsea
    side ahead of Tuesday's (May 3) Champions League semi-final
    clash with Liverpool by saying that his players will return
    to London as heroes even if they lose.

    Chelsea, who start the semi-final second leg after a
    disappointing 0-0 home draw with Liverpool at Stamford
    Bridge last week, have been boosted by clinching their
    first league title for 50 years at Bolton Wanderers on
    Saturday.

    Mourinho said of Liverpool on Monday: "I think the
    pressure is on them. I think we go back to London as
    heroes. I think my players, independent of the result
    tomorrow, when they go to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to
    play against Charlton they will go for a big celebration and they will
    be received by the fans like heroes because
    they gave them a Championship (premier league title) and I
    can imagine Anfield Road tomorrow if they (Liverpool) lose
    I can imagine the meaning for their supporters so I think
    the pressure is on them."
    Mourinho said the entire club felt good.

    "I think it's a better feeling than Chelsea players and
    managers they have had in the last 49 years. It is better
    to go back with the Premiership than to go back with
    nothing in hand. When we left London to come to the north
    we come with two objectives: go back Champions and go back
    to play the Champions League final. One we already have,
    the other one we will see."
    If Chelsea beat Liverpool they would face AC Milan or
    PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League final in Istanbul on
    May 25. Milan lead 2-0 going into Wednesday's second leg in
    Eindhoven.

    Goalkeeper Petr Cech said Chelsea's defeat by Monaco at
    the semi-final stage last year has made them determined to
    reach the final this time.

    Cech said winning the Premiership title has taken the
    pressure off ahead of the Champions League semi-final.

    "I think it was the most pleasure to win the game
    against Bolton (Premiership title) for us and we know that
    we have been working for the title and now we won the
    title, so we can play without the pressure of the
    championship and we can just concentrate for the game
    tomrorrow."


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