JOSE MOURINHO may think he does not have to win the
Champions League to prove himself at Chelsea. But Porto midfielder
Lucho Gonzalez reckons the Special One will get the sack if he co
cks it up again.
Certainly Blues owner Roman Abramovich, with whom Mourinho has a
frosty relationship, is expecting the cup with the big ears in
the trophy cabinet come the end of this eventful season.
Mourinho has failed to deliver it twice at Stamford Bridge. A third
failure might be once too often and prompt Abramovich to get rid
before the manager has a chance to walk out of his own accord
possibly to Real Madrid.
Argentine ace Gonzalez, 26, will do battle against Chelsea in the
first leg of the clubs last-16 tie at the Estadio do Dragao
tonight. He believes Mourinhos job is on the line and has studied
the explosive events which have been taking place at Stamford
Bridge with great interest.
Gonzalez said: I respect Chelsea but it seems that they are a long
way away from what is expected of the stars there. Mourinho is in
a life-and-death situation if he loses another Champions League.
As I see it, it is a match that will prove decisive for many
people it could decide the future of all involved. So we know
they will come with all their power and motivation but Porto are
playing samba football and we are having a great run.
We are obliged to win and we need to go to London with a
respectable advantage. I know how to read the situation. Porto
have what it takes to break Chelseas midfield, which is their
strength.
South African striker Benni McCarthy, now at Blackburn, was the
last Porto player to score a winner against Chelsea. He grabbed the
second as Porto beat the Blues 2-1 in December 2004. And the big
hitman feels that Chelsea could be beaten again. McCarthy said:
Porto have got a great chance of winning.
But French midfield ace Claude Makelele claims We had to settle in
to the new style of play with Michael Ballack and Andriy
Shevchenko. It was difficult for the two to play in a team that
was working very well before they arrived.
But now I am confident that everything is fine. I hope to win the
Champions League and the Premiership.
