Rafa must beware as Mourinho leads from the front

14 April 2012

Jose Mourinho celebrated Chelsea's dramatic last-minute winner against Valencia by claiming that their likely semi- final opponents Liverpool are already favourites to reach the final.

Rafa Benitez's men are expected to complete the formality of beating PSV Eindhoven at Anfield this evening and set up a second European Cup semi-final between the two teams in the last three years.

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Hip hip Jose! Chelsea boss Mourinho goes wild after Essien scores the winner

Mourinho, who will be without match winner Michael Essien for the first leg at Stamford Bridge after he picked up a second yellow card last night, said: "Revenge is not a word I like to use in football or in life.

"We have to beat them, but we will start the game from behind. When I look at Liverpool, I see that they are only playing for the Champions League.

"We are playing for the Champions League, the Premiership and the FA Cup. They start the tie in front of us."

Essien completed Chelsea's remarkable comeback when he rifled his shot past Santiago Canizares to inflict Valencia's first defeat by English opposition at the Mestalla since Leeds beat them in 1967. It was the 25th time this season Chelsea have scored in the final 10 minutes.

The Chelsea chief, whose side remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple, added: "Essien is a special player and we missed him when he was out through injury.

"In my mind, we were heading for extra time and I was preparing to get the sports drinks ready when he scored.

"For me it was a golden goal because it meant they had to score two and they just didn't have the time to do it.

"I am so proud of this group of players because we have had so many problems and they have stayed strong throughout the season.

At half time I told them that they were out of the Champions League, but the second half was amazing. We were the only team in it and it was a very special performance from a very special team."

More than 2,500 Chelsea supporters who made the trip celebrated their extraordinary victory, but there was no sign of their billionaire benefactor Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea claimed that Abramovich was in Russia on official business, but Mourinho admitted that his absence may be significant.

He added: "I want to stay in England at the end of the season and I want to stay at Chelsea, but sometimes you can't get what you want in life.

"If I can't coach here, I want to train another team in England."

Mourinho jumped all over John Terry as the Chelsea captain gave his post-match TV interview. Terry laughed: "I think he's happy now! He wasn't at half-time. We had to be a lot better than in the first half. We were not good enough and we got a kick up the backside."

Mourinho added: "This is an unbelievable group and what we are doing this season is amazing.

Andriy Shevchenko celebrates after putting Chelsea level

"I am very pleased Manchester United are also in the Champions League semi-finals because they will also have to play two more matches and their focus is also in three competitions."

After the high fives with Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores last week, Mourinho showed last night exacly who had the upper hand.

Following the friendly fire at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, Quique Sanchez Flores and Mourinho got down to the nitty gritty in the Mestalla.

Mourinho can stand toe to toe with any of the great coaches in the modern game after lifting the famous old trophy with Porto in 2004 and he has since gone on to become the most successful Chelsea manager in their history.

The Chelsea chief was first off the team bus when they arrived at the Mestalla an hour and a half before kick-off and he ignored the mob of angry Valencia fans baying for their blood.

Leading from the front is the measure of Mourinho and his team showed nerves of steel to progress to the semi-finals.

More than 50,000 frenzied locals were waiting to eat them alive in this breakfast bowl of a stadium and they took time to settle before Shevchenko secured their equaliser.

After that, there was only one team in it and Essien delivered the knockout blow in the dying seconds of normal time.

Mourinho added: "The feeling I have now is the same feeling I had when Porto scored in the last minute at Old Trafford to go through in 2004. I have that same emotion. Every Chelsea fan must be proud of their team and every England fan should be as well."

Until last night, Roma's Francesco Totti had been the only visiting player to score in this stadium in the Champions League when his side lost 2-1.

But Chelsea left an indelible mark on the Mestalla. For that, they undoubtedly have the grandmaster to thank.

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