Barcelona top Mourinho's wish list
Jose Mourinho is keen for his Chelsea side to face the best in Europe, he tells Conrad Leach
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Your support makes all the difference.Perhaps the setting for his book launch was appropriate, just a few doors down from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, because some may feel Jose Mourinho needs his head checked if his desire is granted in today's Champions' League draw.
Perhaps the setting for his book launch was appropriate, just a few doors down from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, because some may feel Jose Mourinho needs his head checked if his desire is granted in today's Champions' League draw.
The Chelsea manager, speaking in London's Belgrave Square at the launch of his biography, claimed on the eve of today's draw that he wants to face Barcelona in the last 16 of Europe's top club competition.
The Spaniards, who are leading La Liga by some distance, are arguably the toughest team Chelsea could face, even though the Catalans finished runners-up in their group.
But the Portuguese said: "They are all fantastic teams, but I'm thankful we can't play Italians because they have won their groups. Internazionale, AC Milan and Juventus for example can't play against us.
"Among the second-placed teams there are a group of fantastic sides. I cannot choose myself. But for emotional reasons and because everybody says they are the best in Europe I would like to play Barcelona.
"You want to play against the best - against the big managers and the big players. I think this is common sense."
Mourinho started as a translator to Sir Bobby Robson at Barcelona in the late 1990s before being promoted first by Robson and then his successor Louis Van Gaal.
And if his wish is granted he will also come up against Deco, the player with whom he won the Champions' League with Porto in May, before they went separate ways in the summer. But Mourinho, in a relaxed and expansive mood, also revealed that despite the success he has enjoyed in the past 18 months he still fears he will be sacked one day.
"I have never been sacked," he said. "Maybe I was half-sacked when I was at Benfica because I wanted a new contract and put big pressure on the board. But one day I will be sacked. I know Bobby Robson was sacked when he was manager at Sporting Lisbon and they were top of the league.
"For sure it will happen one day, especially with my personality but I won't cry. But you know who the richest managers are, the ones who get sacked a lot. If it happens I'll enjoy my family and a month later maximum I will have my next job."
He believes this book, written by a childhood friend and encompassing the last four years, will reinforce what people already think of him. He also said that he receives praise from rival fans.
"I feel I get respect from supporters," he said. "It is normal for me to be in London and for Arsenal and Tottenham fans to say I want you to lose but that they still respect me."
After five months in charge at Chelsea, Mourinho has taken the club to a four-point lead in the Premiership, ahead of Everton, with the challenge of Arsenalheld off after last Sunday's 2-2 draw at Highbury.
Chelsea also beat Manchester United on the first day of the season but Mourinho believes that Sir Alex Ferguson's club can challenge for the title.
He said: "He has a great team with great players. He is still fighting for the Premiership because nine points is not much. But at the same time we are strong and it will be difficult to catch us."
DREAM TICKETS TEAMS AND DATES ON THE ROAD TO ISTANBUL
The Format
Teams who finished top of their group will be drawn against a runner-up. Clubs cannot play sides from their own country, nor those they faced in the group stage. Restrictions end after the round of 16
Group Winners
Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Lyon, Arsenal, Milan, Internazionale, Chelsea.
Runners-Up
Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Werder Bremen, Porto.
Possible Opponents
Arsenal: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Werder Bremen, Porto.
Chelsea: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Werder Bremen.
Manchester United: Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Milan, Internazionale.
Liverpool: Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Lyon, Milan, Internazionale.
DATES
First knock-out round, first leg 22 & 23 February 2005. Second leg 8 & 9 March 2005.
Quarter-finals first leg 5 & 6 April 2005.
Quarter-finals second leg 12 & 13 April 2005.
Semi-finals first leg 26 & 27 April 2005.
Semi-finals second leg 3 & 4 May 2005.
Final 25 May 2005 (Istanbul).
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