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MOURINHO SENDS CHELSEA'S EURO HOPES CRASHING

Wednesday March 17 2010

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JOSE MOURINHO declared Chelsea are haunted by their Champions League failures after making a triumphant return to Stamford Bridge last night.

A late Samuel Eto’o goal secured a 1-0 victory for Mourinho’s Inter Milan and handed them a 3-1 aggregate success that sent Chelsea crashing out of the competition at the last-16 stage.

And as in past years, the frustration of Chelsea’s players boiled over as Didier Drogba was sent off in the 87th minute and captain John Terry screamed at fourth official Thorsten Kinhofer as he headed down the tunnel.

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Mourinho acknowledged that, instead of being the Special One, he will now be Public Enemy No 1 with some Chelsea fans and rubbed salt into the wounds of club owner Roman Abramovich.

Referring to Chelsea’s failure to win the Champions League for Abramovich, Mourinho said: “A team that lost a semi-final with a goal that was not a goal, lost a semi-final on penalties, lost a final on penalties, lost a semi-final in a game they should have won 3-0 with three penalties – this is the story of Chelsea and their players.

“This is their history, one of frustration. Again they had the ambition to go through but were frustrated because they felt immediately Inter were the best team.

“Tonight, Inter were much better than Chelsea and that brought frustration to the players, great professionals and great people. My people will always be my people. But today I was the enemy. And the enemy won. That’s life.

“Someone asked me if I would still be special if I lost here. Today I’m not so special for Chelsea supporters, who will probably never forgive me.”

Mourinho, sacked after three-and-a-half successful years at Stamford Bridge, claimed Abramovich would have to concede Inter richly deserved their victory.

“Roman is a very intelligent person and, because of that, he’s not the same as he was one year ago, two years, three years, five years ago,” said Mourinho.

“He probably thought it would be easy when he arrived in football. It’s not. He’ll know Inter were the best team.”

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who will now come under added pressure from Abramovich to deliver the Premier League title, did not offer any excuses for his players.

“It’s normal that a manager is going to come under pressure if he loses a few matches,” he said. “We’re still involved in the Premier League and the FA Cup. They’re both of very high importance.”

Drogba, dismissed for stamping on Thiago Motta, will start next season with a European ban for a third successive year.

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ALWAYS SPECIAL

18.03.10, 12:56am

i have been a chelsea fan for as long as i can remember....i remember supporting ranieri and being angry when he left and bringing in Mourinho...then i remember falling in love the Mourinho's chelsea and chelsea all over again

Mourinho will always be special in the hearts of any true chelsea fans who where drifting through in hindsight 'mediocrity'

the slightly team and the miles better manager won on tuesday. i could never be angry at Jose....unless he decides to manage Liverpool or United that would be unforgivable

• Posted by: Nunes • Report Comment

THE RESULT!

17.03.10, 4:08pm

Knock knock. Is swfit-pen-little-brain Mick'y' Dennis there? Mario has just worked the path of grace once more. How you must be whining but pls don't try suicide. And in Daily Mail your Graham Poll of all people has labelled ref Stark's performance as "German inefficiency". But no problem cos am not German but if I were I would prefer Stark's than the type of "english efficiency" which Poll once examplified, i think in Germany 2006. But in honesty do you not think Mourinho made very light a two-time UCL winning coach. Some achieve it by luck while some is by being good, plus grace. Go lick your ****!

• Posted by: Vinci • Report Comment

ORDINARY

17.03.10, 6:56am

chelsea looked pretty average and have done since essien got injured. outsmarted and outclassed by a well organised inter. i think they are passed their best, the best they can hope for is the fa cup. villa will be a test and could prove a shock.

• Posted by: golfcrazy • Report Comment