Damien Will Play in Seville
By 40 Years A Blue
October 31 2005
Good news for an already outstanding Chelsea team is that Damien Duff is ready to pull on the blue shirt again and WILL play some part in Chelsea's Champions League clash against Real Betis in Seville tomorrow night.
The 'Special One' Jose Mourinho, so good I have to write it twice, THE SPECIAL ONE, was full of praise not only of Damien Duff, with his quick return to fitness, but also to the club's medical staff who have managed to get one of Chelsea's most influential players back into action after getting injured playing for his country. (Spot the irony?) Jose said
Duff was also at the pre-match UEFA press conference and said
"It’s three weeks to the day, I’ve been back training four or five days and I feel good." He believes he is ready to compete again. "I think so, I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I’ve worked hard to get back for this game, I’ve trained four or five days and I feel good. The surgeon said four to six weeks and it’s three today so I’m pleased."The spotlight and questions returned to 'The Special One' and he said in reference to getting to the next stage, "It’s important is to go to the next stage, if we go now or in the last game it is not a big difference. But we know that three points will give us the next round, one point will give us almost there, and we know even a defeat will leave us in the first two positions. So our situation is a good situation. We have to respect this team (Real Betis), and the best way is to remember the game in London where they start very well, to be fair they start better than us and they gave us a few problems. We have to understand that the game tomorrow is not an easy one."
The Special One then went on to explain that despite the media hype, everything is not perfect "There is always space for improvement. When I look back for the last weeks, of course I was surprised with some defensive mistakes that we made. But maybe one month ago if you asked me I would say we are defending perfectly, we are breaking records. But we gave away the penalty against Everton, we let in a bad goal against Charlton, two bad goals against Blackburn, and before that a bad one against Bolton. We are conceding too many goals compared with the past. So the secret is to improve in some certain areas but not losing what we are strong at."
Damien insisted the players were not put out by the draw at Everton and Carling Cup elimination against Charlton.
"Just look at some of the results. Many people saw two draws as a mini-crisis but we showed how strong we are by bouncing back on Saturday. We were still positive. The way we looked at it, it was only two draws. We had worst points last season."
He believes that Real Betis will provide stiff competition.
"It’s a massive game for them. They’ll be desperate to turn us over, desperate to get a positive result. I watched the game on Saturday when they lost to Real Madrid, but they’re obviously going to be up for it."
He said that he had watched a lot of videos in meetings with the manager. He also admitted that missing out on the World Cup will give this competition greater significance.
"It’s a huge disappointment in anyone’s career to go out, it’s a massive stage, but Chelsea’s number one, I’m sure that’s the case for everyone in the squad, and I’m just looking forward to the rest if the season."
Of the Champions League he said: "It’s a massive stage playing against the best players in the world. I’ve been at Chelsea two-and-a-half years and it’s exciting times playing in the Champions League. When I’m missing out next summer it will seem even more exciting."
40 Years A Blue