Former Chelsea midfielder Alexey Smertin backs Mourinho to win the Champions League with Chelsea

The Special One back to target the Champions League says former Chelsea midfielder

Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea having ended his three-year reign at Real Madrid. The Spanish giants reached the semi-finals stage of the Champions League in all the three seasons under Mourinho, but could not progress to the final in any.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, former Chelsea midfielder Alexey Smertin said that Mourinho was one of the best and that he could help Chelsea land the Champions league in his second spell at the London club. Chelsea twice reached the semi-finals in 2005 and 2007, but lost to Liverpool on both the occasions.

“I had 18 managers in my playing career and Mourinho is one of the best coaches I worked under.

“His target will be to win this trophy,” he said.

The Portuguese manager has been highly successful in Europe having won the Champions League before with Porto and Inter Milan. In his first spell at Chelsea that ended in September 2007, he won two League titles as well as two League Cups and one FA Cup.

Smertin, who played under Mourinho from 2004-06, added: “He is very strong psychologically.

“I was always sure we would win a game; the question was by how many.

“I remember the first meeting with him. He told all of us we were the best players.

“He asked us how many trophies we had won. Nobody answered. He responded: ‘That is why I know we start winning from tomorrow’.

“I didn’t play week in week out but despite that I was very happy and I felt involved.”

Meanwhile, Spain national team captain and Real Madrid fan favorite Iker Casillas wished Mourinho the best of luck. There were many rumours of a dispute in between the two as Casillas fell out of favour under Mourinho and was seen warming the bench for the last five months of the 2012-13 season.

“Mourinho has embarked on a new journey and I wish him the best,” said Casillas.

Source: BBC Sports