Mourinho urges Chelsea to seize the moment as outsiders and produce one of the great European comebacks against PSG
Jose Mourinho has urged his Chelsea players to seize upon the freedom of being the outsiders and summon one of the great European fightbacks against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mourinho insists he has faith in his team’s ability to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg and told his players to give fans inside Stamford Bridge reason to believe in them too.
Grumpy? Mourinho speaks ahead of the second leg against PSG on Tuesday
In or out? Eto'o (right) speaks to Fernando Torres and Ramires at Chelsea's Cobham training base
Huge: This will be Mourinho's biggest game since rejoining Chelsea in the summer
‘We have to enjoy the risk of the situation,’ said the Chelsea boss. ‘The reasons are not important. The only thing that is important is belief and I believe. My players believe.
‘If Paris are knocked out it will be a big disappointment for them. If we are knocked out it is something lots of people are expecting.
‘At 9.30pm we can be out. We know there is this risk. But at 7.45pm, we have the chance to be in the semi-finals. At 7.45pm we must have smiles on our faces, giving everything and going out to play. At 7.45pm, we believe we can do it.
‘If you ask me if I think we will win, yes, I think so. I think we are going to win, really.
'I think at the end of two legs we will have more goals than them. If I don’t think that, I don’t go to the game and I am happy to go.
Going through their paces: Mourinho takes charge of Chelsea's training session on Monday
Who's that? Eden Hazard takes to training wearing his winter hat over his face before later removing it
All smiles: John Terry and his Chelsea team-mates appeared in relaxed spirits ahead of their Euro clash
‘We need the supporters but we know it’s difficult for them. Normally at home we play well, so they have hope but everything starts with us. If we show we can do it, they will come with us.’
Mourinho, who bemoaned his lack of strikers after the defeat in Paris, looks set to gamble on the fitness of striker Samuel Eto’o after the 33-year-old came through a training session yesterday.
Eto’o has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but was put through his paces at Chelsea’s training base in Surrey.
Up for the battle: Cesar Azpilicueta takes a leap in training - the Spaniard will start tomorrow's match
Team game: Chelsea are trailing PSG 3-1 in their Champions League last-eight clash
Mountain to climb: Chelsea look dejected during the 3-1 defeat to PSG last week
He warmed up alone with coach Rui Faria but joined his team-mates later in the session and seemed to be moving freely and without pain as he slammed shots into the net.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc says his side will not sit back on their two-goal advantage.
‘We have not come here to suffer and let Chelsea dictate the game,’ he said. ‘A role of a top team is to dominate the game even away from home.’
Goal: Javier Pastore celebrates after making it 3-1 in Paris, but Chelsea have overturned this deficit before
Repeat needed: Chelsea beat Napoli 4-1 in the second leg in the 2012 last 16 after losing the first leg 3-1
Positive: Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc insists his side won't sit back against Chelsea
Preparation: PSG's players get used to Stamford Bridge in a training session on Monday evening
Danger man: Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani (centre) stretches before Monday's session
All smiles: Players including Ezequiel Lavezzi (left) look relaxed ahead of Tuesday's second leg
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