London: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hailed his side’s “special spirit” after a dramatic late goal by Demba Ba propelled them into the Champions League semi-finals at Paris Saint-Germain’s expense.
Despite trimming PSG’s 3-1 aggregate lead through Andre Schuerrle, Chelsea were heading out of the competition until Ba bundled home in the 87th minute of Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge to send his team through on away goals.
The London club’s comeback carried echoes of their 2012 success over Napoli, when they overcame a 3-1 first-leg loss in the last 16 with a 4-1 win before going on to beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the final.
While Mourinho has often declared that his team are a work in progress — and described the victory over PSG as “nothing extraordinary” — he said the belief that his players had shown augured well for the last four.
“We’re in the semi-finals and if the quarter-finals had eight fantastic teams, imagine the four that are going to reach the semi-finals,” he said.
“Anything can happen. A big opponent is waiting for us in the semi-finals, but I think it doesn’t matter who. They know that we are the team with special spirit, even if we are not at the maximum of our potential.”
Asked if he would like to face former club Real Madrid in the last four, Mourinho replied: “No. It doesn’t matter. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico (Madrid), Bayern Munich, Manchester (United), it doesn’t matter.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription