Jesus walks: Benfica's coach oversees his side's
training session on Tuesday night
UEFA Champions League
11/12
Chelsea vs Benfica
Date: 4 April
2012
Channel 102 - 2:45am - (Live) (Thur Morning)
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus branded Chelsea 'lucky'
to be ahead in their Champions League quarter-final and vowed his
side would turn the tie around on Wednesday
night.
The Blues are odds-on favourites to reach the final four
after winning last Tuesday's first leg 1-0 in Lisbon, with only two
clubs ever having overturned a home defeat in the
competition.
But Jesus insisted his side were capable of becoming the
third at Stamford Bridge.
'Chelsea obviously have the upper hand, but we are going
to approach this game in the same manner as we would have if we had
won the first game,' he said.
'Chelsea had quite a lot of luck in the first match,
considering we dominated the match.
'We have the quality to win this game, obviously, and I'm
sure that - this time round - we can turn the tables on Chelsea and
do the same as they did in Lisbon.'
Jesus added: 'They came out to play for a 0-0 draw and
ended up getting a win.
Hair we go: Jesus preaches to the choir at the
pre-match press conference
'They'll be dangerous from set-pieces but we need to play
an offensive game and cancel out that first-leg
advantage.
'We'll go into this game being offensive.
'We need to score to progress, that's obvious, but we'll
play an offensive game, an attacking game and I'm sure we can take
it to Chelsea.'
Benfica's performance last week belied their reputation of
being a scourge of English sides.
They even helped dump Manchester United out of this
season's competition after drawing home and away with the Barclays
Premier League champions during the group stage.
Now or never: Benfica must overturn a 1-0 deficit at
Stamford Bridge
'It's true that we've had good results in the past against
English opposition,' former Braga boss Jesus said.
'I also had a good result with Braga against Arsenal, who
we beat 3-0.'
Jesus could be forced to play holding midfielder Javi
Garcia as a makeshift centre-half, with captain Luisao a major
doubt with a knee injury.
'I have more problems than Chelsea ahead of this game,'
Jesus said.
The heavens open: Rain pours on Jesus' men
Adamant: Bruno Cesar (left) is confident of an
upset
Attacking midfielder Bruno Cesar was as defiant as his
manager about Benfica's chances of pulling off one of the greatest
shocks in Champions League history.
'Chelsea will feel confident after winning that first
game. But we as a team stayed focused, very calm,' the 23-year-old
said.
'We respect Chelsea a great deal, but that won't stop us
going out and doing our best. We're positive we can go out and beat
them tomorrow night.
'It's not impossible.
'We know they have a lot of quality amongst their
players and the team but, the again, so do we.
'We're approaching tomorrow's game with a lot of
confidence and we're confident we can get the result.'
Although top scorer Oscar Cardozo is the obvious goal
threat, summer signing Cesar has proven he can also find the net
from midfield.
The Brazil star said: 'I'll try to create movement outside
the box as well and get as many shots off as possible.
'We're obviously going to have an open game as we're going
to go all out.'