Man Utd stand between Mourinho and quadruple
Chelsea's Michael Ballack celebrates after scoring during their FA Cup semifinal soccer match against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. Reuters |
Chelsea's 2-1 extra-time victory means they will face United in the first FA Cup final to be staged at the re-built Wembley stadium on May 19, 10 days after the sides meet at Stamford Bridge in a potential Premier League decider.
England's top two teams are also just one step away from clashing in the Champions League final on May 23. Chelsea must get past Liverpool while United face AC Milan.
"It would be great to play them three times between now and the end of the season," Mourinho told reporters.
"The reality is what Chelsea and Manchester United are doing this season is unbelievable.
"They didn't progress in the League Cup but for the three major trophies, Manchester United and Chelsea are in all three.
"I think this is an amazing season for both of us. I hope the (league) game at Stamford Bridge is also a final.
"I hope we keep in the running and play that game with a chance to be champions."
Mourinho confirmed that he spoke to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after the game, even though the pair are reportedly not on speaking terms.
"I chatted with Roman Abramovich here," he said. "I told him congratulations and he said congratulations to me as well."
Chelsea did not have an easy ride to the final with Blackburn having several chances to win in normal time, particularly a glaring headed miss by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Mourinho said: "Once they scored the goal and I saw the way the game was going at the end I was afraid.
"If they scored a goal in the 81st minute or 85th minute the game would have been over, and they had a chance to do it with Pedersen. But in extra time Chelsea controlled the game."
Mourinho praised Michael Ballack, scorer of the winner 19 minutes into extra time, after a difficult first season for the German playmaker.
"His life was not very easy but he is a guy with a lot of experience and a real leader," Mourinho said. "He has a top mentality and he could resist the pressure. "Now he has scored a goal that is with the history of the club."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes agreed that his side needed to win the match in normal time.
"People said it was a forgone conclusion and we have proved that was not the case," he said. "Extra time came at the wrong time for us as we had some momentum and if the match had gone on for five or 10 minutes more we would have won."
Agencies
(China Daily 04/17/2007 page24)
