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Mourinho braced for mixed Porto reception

By Carlos Pontes
February 20, 2007 10:55 IST
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Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho expects another mixed reception in Porto when he takes the English champions to Portugal for their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich lured Mourinho to London immediately after the Portuguese had lifted the trophy with Porto in 2004.

The teams have met twice since Mourinho's departure -- Chelsea winning 3-1 at home in a group match in September 2004 and Porto edging the return 2-1 three months later -- and he expects some fans to be less than welcoming in the first leg.

"I know I will have a reception in Porto with two faces -- the people that understand that after winning the UEFA Cup and the Champions League I wanted a new situation... a new reality, a new challenge in the best league in the world... they will give me a big welcome," said Mourinho.

"The people that don't understand why a professional wants to come to a new reality will give me some nice songs -- some like I get in England!

"I know the job I did with that club, I know the history I had with that club... with whistles and boos they cannot delete that history."

Chelsea travel without Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz, who lasted just 44 minutes into his comeback from a seven-week layoff before dislocating his shoulder in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Norwich City in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

Joe Cole (foot) and Ashley Cole (knee) remain sidelined but former Porto defender Ricardo Carvalho, midfielder Claude Makelele and Germany captain Michael Ballack should return after they were rested at the weekend.

"I think the message I want to give to my players is that (Porto) have to be more worried about us than we are about them," Mourinho said.

Porto, who hold a four-point lead in their domestic championship after thrashing Naval 4-0 on Friday, welcome back winger Ricardo Quaresma.

The versatile Quaresma has served a two-match domestic ban after being sent off against Uniao Leiria on Jan. 26.

Coach Jesualdo Ferreira is set to revert to a 4-3-3 formation with Argentine strikers Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez looking to profit from Quaresma's crossing ability.

Probable teams:

Porto: 1-Helton; 12-Jose Bosingwa, 3-Pepe, 13-Jorge Fucile, 18-Paulo Assuncao, 16-Raul Meireles, 8-Lucho Gonzalez, 29-Bruno Moraesw, 7-Ricardo Quaresma, 23-Helder Postiga, 9-Lisandro Lopez

Chelsea: 1-Petr Cech; 20-Paulo Ferreira, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 26-John Terry, 18-Wayne Bridge; 4-Claude Makelele, 5-Michael Essien, 8-Frank Lampard, 13-Michael Ballack; 7-Andriy Shevchenko, 11-Didier Drogba.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)

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Carlos Pontes
Source: REUTERS
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