AND THEN THERE were two.
We now know that Chelsea and Bayern Munich will face off in the Champions League decider in the Bavarian capital next month.
And beaten Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho is backing his former club to prevail at the Allianz Arena.
Mourinho’s Real bowed out of the competition in a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Bayern at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu last night, after the teams’ semi-final tie finished 3-3 on aggregate over two legs.
The Portuguese coach was quick to offer his backing to Premier League club, who surprisingly knocked out defending champions Barcelona a day earlier.
“Chelsea mean a lot in my life and I would like them to win the final,” Mourinho said. ”John (Terry) is missing, but Chelsea is there, which is the most important thing. But I just hope it’s a good final.
“Of course I want the Blues to win, but with all respect for the Reds (Bayern Munich). I think (the) Chelsea boys were heroes yesterday, absolute heroes (against Barca),” Mourinho said of the club he managed between 2004 and 2007.
“I know some people think they (Barca) are the masters of the game and will criticise Chelsea like they criticised Inter (Milan) two years ago, but they know nothing about character, about effort, about a team with 10 men resisting tactically, physically everything. That’s why I have in mind the heroes of Inter and the heroes of Chelsea in this match. Chelsea deserve to be there.”
But Mourinho could not resist attempting to justify his team’s exit, pointing out the fact Real met Barca in a crucial league match on Saturday. By contrast, Bayern, out of contention in the Bundesliga, could afford to change eight players for their trip to Werder Bremen.
“We deserved to reach the final because we have been playing for the (Spanish) title,” Mourinho said. ”The final is the second team in Germany against the fifth team in England. I hope it’s a good final. I hope they enjoy it, both teams. For Chelsea the second time (in four years). For Bayern the second time in three years, which is fantastic.
“I respect a lot these guys — Mr (Jupp) Heynckes and the players from Bayern, because they played a final against me two years ago and they lost fairly, like I lose fairly.”
