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Mourinho's future in balance?
09/04/2007 18:50 - (SA)
Valencia - Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final match against Valencia is likely to have a major impact on Blues coach Jose Mourinho's future.
Valencia held the English champions to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last week, midfielder David Silva scoring the vital away goal ahead of Tuesday's second leg at the Mestalla stadium.
With a historic quadruple still possible, the Portuguese coach could end a reported feud with owner Roman Abramovich if he wins the one title the Russian billionaire craves most - the European Cup.
"Our Champions League this season is positive, but of course we need to progress tomorrow to confirm that positive campaign," Mourinho said on Monday. "I don't change my philosophy. Champions League is about success and sometimes the difference between success and no success is very, very small."
Although Mourinho, who won Europe's top prize with FC Porto in 2004, has picked up two league titles and two League Cups, his position will continue to be scrutinized if he doesn't win the Champions League for Chelsea.
"Chelsea had a very good group phase against the European champion (FC Barcelona) and against (Werder Bremen), that is a candidate to win the Uefa Cup," Mourinho said.
After narrowing the gap on league leader Manchester United to three points at the weekend, Chelsea are looking for a first win in Spain in nine years and first for an English club at the Mestalla in 40 years.
"This is a game that decides everything and we need a result to go through and part of that result is that we need to score goals - we have to play for that," Mourinho said. "Maybe one goal is enough, but we have to play to score goals."
- AP
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