Jose Mourinhos Milan spit fire at home to defeat Chelsea 2-1
Jose Mourinho's Milan spit fire at home to defeat Chelsea 2-1u00a0
Jose Mourinho got one over his former employers as Inter Milan beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League last 16 first leg clash at the San Siro here last night.
Its a slender advantage but a crucial one for Inter ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 16th.
For Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, it was an unhappy return to the stadium where he served AC Milan for eight years with such distinction, winning two Champions League titles and one scudetto.
Mourinho did not gloat over taking a slender advantage to London in three weeks time.
"Of course I am happy inside," said the Portuguese.
"Because as a professional I want to win and as a professional I want to win more trophies than anyone else.
"There were no surprises from us tonight and Chelsea didnt have any either.
"We are evenly matched sides. Chelsea are not better than us, they have different qualities just as we do."
Inter were off to a flying start and went ahead after just three minutes following some shoddy defending by Chelsea, as Thiago Motta played the ball into Samuel Etoo who fed it on to Diego Milito, the Argentine cutting too easily inside the wrong-footed John Terry and shooting home at Peter Cechs near post.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who was returning after missing last weekends match because of a virus, said that the early goal conceded to the Italians had knocked the stuffing out of them.
"I felt overall we were the stronger team but them getting the early goal made it more difficult for us," said Lampard.
"But going back to Stamford Bridge at 2-1 makes it fairly even but obviously we have got to win the match itself."
In another clash last night, CSKA Moscow came from behind to draw 1-1 with Spanish side Sevilla, leaving the return leg in two weeks time delicately poise.
Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez produced a spectacular equaliser on 65 minutes with a 35-yard strike that is likely to be a contender for goal of the season, swerving past a helpless Andres Palop.
Earlier,u00a0 Alvaro Negredo made most of a defensive blunder to tap in.
