TOW
02-20-2007, 05:32 AM
When Porto and Chelsea were drawn together, a wry smile formed across Jose Mourinho’s face. The Special One left the Portuguese side after success in this competition in 2004, to begin a revolution at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho’s departure was the catalyst for a mass exodus of the talent that had also brought the Dragoes UEFA Cup success in 2003. Though the current side are still the leading force in Portuguese football, PinnacleSports.com rates the current team as 66/1 outsiders for a second Champions League title in four years.
Mourinho will be cautiously confident that his side have it in their power to beat his former charges over two legs. In his two seasons at the Bridge, Chelsea made the quarters (2005) then semi’s (2006), on each occasion thwarted by the eventual winners. Having already negotiated Barcelona over two legs to win the race to the top of Group A, the odds are against that happening in the last sixteen of this campaign. Given the depth of quality in Chelsea’s squad, and the experience of their coach, Chelsea are widely regarded as European Champions in waiting; the question is whether this is the year everything falls into place?
Mourinho would accept that luck played some part in Porto’s Champions League success, and he will be hoping for a little more. At the turn of the year, Chelsea showed for the first time under his management signs of real defensive vulnerability. This was brought on by the combined absence of captain John Terry, and goalie, Petr Cech, whose importance cannot be stressed enough.
To qualify: Porto 4.79; Chelsea 1.239 with PinnacleSports.com (http://tracking.pinnaclesports.com/cgi-bin/rr.cgi/R2_EMBED_PARAMS/onlinewire/20061026a/200610261057001/http://www.pinnaclesports.com/default.asp?language=English&LExt=egl&refer=xtower1)
Mourinho will be cautiously confident that his side have it in their power to beat his former charges over two legs. In his two seasons at the Bridge, Chelsea made the quarters (2005) then semi’s (2006), on each occasion thwarted by the eventual winners. Having already negotiated Barcelona over two legs to win the race to the top of Group A, the odds are against that happening in the last sixteen of this campaign. Given the depth of quality in Chelsea’s squad, and the experience of their coach, Chelsea are widely regarded as European Champions in waiting; the question is whether this is the year everything falls into place?
Mourinho would accept that luck played some part in Porto’s Champions League success, and he will be hoping for a little more. At the turn of the year, Chelsea showed for the first time under his management signs of real defensive vulnerability. This was brought on by the combined absence of captain John Terry, and goalie, Petr Cech, whose importance cannot be stressed enough.
To qualify: Porto 4.79; Chelsea 1.239 with PinnacleSports.com (http://tracking.pinnaclesports.com/cgi-bin/rr.cgi/R2_EMBED_PARAMS/onlinewire/20061026a/200610261057001/http://www.pinnaclesports.com/default.asp?language=English&LExt=egl&refer=xtower1)