Chelsea coach Avram Grant spoke on behalf of his players when he admitted that it was his dream to lead the team to a first Champions League final.
“The dream of everyone here is to win it,” said Grant as he prepared to face Liverpool in tonight’s semi-final second leg clash.
“It is the top competition. We have taken a long route to get here, especially me, but our target is clear. We want to be a big club and for that we need to be in the Champions League final. We want to create history for Chelsea.”
Chelsea appear to be in a stronger position than the previous two occasions they have met Liverpool at this stage of the competition. This time Chelsea have home advantage for the second leg, and they also have an away goal thanks to John Arne Riise’s own-goal in the 94th minute at Anfield.
Grant dismissed claims made by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez that his side had enjoyed all the luck in last week’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.
“At the end of the game we were the better team and we scored in the last minute. added Grant. “You can say whatever you want but the score says 1-1.”
Grant is hopeful of having Frank Lampard back following the death of his mother – “he’s doing everything he can to be available,” said the Israeli – but can otherwise select from a fully-fit squad.
Benitez, who seeks a first win at Stamford Bridge since taking charge in 2004, believes tonight’s game may be a more entertaining affair than the previous meetings between the two sides.
“Chelsea need to attack because their supporters will demand it,” he said. “You cannot defend at home and lose 1-0 because your supporters will not be happy. We also need to attack so it could be a very open game.”
Benitez has also has questioned the referee, Roberto Rosetti, for what he described as his “curious” record.
“This referee has had six games in Europe this season, five times the home team has won and the other was when Chelsea won in Valencia,” said the Spaniard. “Maybe that is curious.
“The referee has experience, he is certainly not a bad referee. If he is strong at Stamford Bridge then things will be okay.
“The referee in the first leg was not good in virtually every decision but hopefully it will be different now.”
Benitez said that he expects Fernando Torres to atone for the chances he squandered in the first leg.
“Fernando has a good mentality and is very focused,” Benitez added. “For him to be in the final would be a dream. Normally, in these kind of games, you get top-class players face to face. We know that Petr Cech is a good goalkeeper and he made his saves last week, so maybe this time it will be Torres’s turn.”
