Jose Mourinho: Chelsea FC Not Favored Over Sporting CP
Jose Mourinho told the press ahead of Chelsea FC’s Champions League clash with Sporting CP that the Blues are not favored over the Portuguese club. He reiterated that a good result for Chelsea is a win but that it would be difficult to do so considering FC Porto and Benfica were unable to defeat Sporting in recent weeks.
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"“I don’t know what favorite means in football. For us a good result is winning. We will try to win – one thing is wanting to win, another is achieving it. Benfica and Porto couldn’t do it [beat Sporting]. Sporting have their strengths and motivations and maybe they think that a draw is good for them. One thing is thinking this, another is playing for it.“If we see them play the way they played Porto on Friday and we are also here to win, we will have a great match that will last in people’s memory and celebrate the return of Sporting to the UEFA Champions League. I only feel pride [about the time spent at Sporting as assistant to Sir Bobby Robson]. I did everything here. I only have good memories of Sporting and it was the beginning of my career. It was great.”Source: ChelseaFC.com"
All of this is well and good for Jose Mourinho to say but we all know the truth. Anything less than a victory, and a comprehensive one at that, is unacceptable for Chelsea. They already stumbled once against a wounded Schalke 04 side at Stamford Bridge and they simply can not afford to do so again against a confident Sporting side.
Mourinho is taking a risk starting Diego Costa in this match because he knows how important it is for the rest of the Champions League group stage. Chelsea need to establish themselves as the dominant force in a weak group and take control of their destiny so they can focus on the Premier League before the knockout rounds begin.
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