Carvalho fit for Inter clash - 7M sport

Carvalho fit for Inter clash

Posted Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by PA

Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho has recovered from a hamstring strain in time to face Inter Milan in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Carlo Ancelotti has no fresh injury doubts with Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Jose Bosingwa (knee), Petr Cech (calf) and Hilario (groin) all still sidelined.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will continue in goal as Chelsea seek to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the opening leg of their last-16 tie.

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti insists his players will not be distracted by former boss Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.

Mourinho will be back at his old stamping ground for the first since he was sacked by the club in September 2007.

Inter have a lead from the opening leg of the last-16 tie in the San Siro but Ancelotti is confident there will be no divided loyalties among a squad that

was largely constructed by the self-appointed 'Special One'.

"I'm sure they're not distracted by his return," said Ancelotti. "For Mourinho, it'll be a special evening. The fans will give him a very good reception, one he deserves.

"But the match will be another thing. The players are not involved in other things.

"All the Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on the game, an important game. The other things they're not interested in.

"Jose has great experience. He has won the Champions League and won a lot of titles in different countries.

"The difference in this game will be the different play, the different confidence, the difference courage and personality that the teams put out on the

pitch. That will be the difference.

"I hope there will be a third English club in the quarter-finals. Arsenal and Manchester United did a good job. Now we have to do the same."

Inter will arrive in London having suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by Catania in Serie A at the weekend. The loss allowed Ancelotti's old club, AC Milan, to cut the gap at the top of the Italian league to one point.

But in the 18 months since Mourinho arrived, Inter have never lost two successive games.

Looking almost nervous ahead of the clash, Mourinho denied it would special for him to knock Chelsea out.

"Special for me would be to take Inter over the barrier and into the quarter-finals," said Mourinho.

"Inter lost, if I remember right, in the last years to Villarreal, Valencia, Liverpool, Manchester United last season.

"So it would be special for me to take my team into the next stage. But special to beat Chelsea? No, it would not be special.

"It means I will go to the quarter-finals. That is all. I have nothing to prove to Chelsea, to Chelsea's players, to Chelsea's fans, to Chelsea's board. The relations are great."



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