Mourinho's Inter end Chelsea's Euro dream

Champions League last 16 second leg: Chelsea v Inter Milan
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Tuesday, 16 March Kick-off: 1945 GMT Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9 fm & Online, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and Sky Sports 2

**Chelsea are boosted by the return of Ricardo Carvalho as they look to turn around a 2-1 deficit to Inter Milan in their Champions League last-16 tie.**The Portuguese defender has not played since the Blues’ 4-2 loss to Manchester City on 27 February but has shaken off a hamstring strain and will start.

Third-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will continue in goal for the hosts.

Inter look set to be without Thiago Motta (thigh), Marko Arnautovic (flu) and Mario Balotelli (knee).

And the Italians go into the game on the back of a 3-1 league defeat to Calcio Catania on Friday, though manager Jose Mourinho made four changes to his side for that match, partly with Tuesday’s second-leg tie in mind.

The match will be Mourinho’s first at Stamford Bridge since he was sacked in September 2007 and the Portuguese is sure to receive a hero’s welcome.

In his time at Chelsea, he led them to successive Premier League titles and FA Cup and Carling Cup triumphs - but current Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is rumoured to have fallen out with Mourinho during his time as AC Milan coach, is not worried that the fans’ loyalty will be divided.

“It won’t be difficult for the fans,” said Ancelotti. “Before the game Mourinho will have a very good reception but after that Chelsea fans are Chelsea fans.”

606: DEBATE
Our dearly beloved ex-manager has said he is hoping for a special reception… but I’m not sure how to handle this.

bluemoon2

And the Italian is determined Tuesday’s match is not billed as him against Mourinho, saying: "I don’t have a problem with Mourinho. I have never had a problem with him.

"It’s a game between Chelsea and Inter, not me against Mourinho.

"It’s a game that will be a fantastic one. We want to show our best. I think if Chelsea play at their best we win.

“We know it will be a difficult game against an excellent team, but I think we have a good possibility to do our best to win and go forward. The atmosphere is a good atmosphere to have before a game against Inter.”

However, Mourinho believes his time at Chelsea gives him the edge ahead of the match - because of his fantastic record at Stamford Bridge.

In three years at the club Mourinho never lost a home Premier League match and was defeated only once in the Champions League at the Bridge - against Barcelona in February 2006.

And, speaking before Tuesday’s return leg, he said: "Everybody knows Mourinho doesn’t lose at Stamford Bridge.

“My record is unbeatable. It is amazing.”

It’ll be an emotional game for him but, as for us, you could see in the first game it was not disturbing for the players he signed here for Chelsea

Malouda on Mourinho

Chelsea warmed up for the game with a 4-1 drubbing of London rivals West Ham on Saturday with Florent Malouda, one of the last players to be signed by Mourinho before his departure, continuing his recent good form.

And the French winger insists there will be no time for sentiment when the game gets under way: "We are not thinking about the history. We’re trying to make history.

"What happened in the past, I would say, we don’t care. We’re just looking to win and go through. I hope it will be a great result.

"I would say that [Mourinho’s return] is more important for the fans than for us. We, as players for Chelsea, just want to beat Inter. It’ll be an emotional game for him but, as for us, you could see in the first game it was not disturbing for the players he signed here for Chelsea.

“I just hope that Carlo will help me win my first Champions League.”

Chelsea (from): Turnbull, Taylor, Ivanovic, Kalou, Alex, Drogba, Malouda, Terry, Carvalho, Borini, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Anelka, Zhirkov, J Cole, Belletti, Ballack, Kakuta, Sturridge.