Chelsea Boss hails 'Bargain Buy' Costa

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes newly signed striker Diego Costa will prove a bargain buy, following his impressive display in the preseason clash, and his clinical double in the 2-0 friendly win over Real Sociedad.

The Blues splashed a staggering £32 million to lure the 25-year-old talisman Atletico Madrid and the Portuguese manager is convinced that the scrupulous attacker will justify his hefty price-tag by the end of the season.

Mourinho said: "Diego is a team player, he works a lot, he is not just about goals. He is about defensive work, his mentality, his ambition.

"This is why we didn't buy a striker in the last transfer window - we were waiting for him.

"He looks very adapted to his team-mates and the style of play.

"I won't say he is adapted to the Premier League yet because it is a very difficult job to be a striker in this country, but hopefully he does well.

Jose Mourinho: Next Season Will Be Better

After last night Champion's League defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said that his objective is to make a better campaign next season.

Mourinho suffered his heaviest home defeat as Chelsea manager, when Ardan Turan netted the third goal for Atleti - in the match which ended 3-1.

Rather than show sadness, Jose, 51, gave the credits to a 'better' Atletico side and stressed that next season would be one to remember for the Blues.

"Next season will be better than this season – that's our objective," said Mourinho, who had selected César Azpilicueta in midfield with Oscar injured.

"Our young players will be better, hopefully we will have a couple of players to improve our team and we will try to do better next season.

Chelsea hope to secure the services of Atleti's hitman - Diego Costa during the summer transfer window.

Source: The Guardian UK

MIND GAMES: Mourinho and Simeone Exchange Good Remarks

Ahead of the Champion's League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has praised the attacking prowess of Diego Simeone's men.

Atletico are comfortably sat at the top of the Spanish League table -  needing just two wins to lift the trophy, they've also shown a good spirit in Europe by eliminating both AC Milan and Barcelona; hence, the 51-year-old Portuguese boss is not quick to writing them off.

"They are a good side. They are not a counterattacking side. They are a good side. They defend well. They score goals. They win matches! They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and need two victories to be Spanish champions.

"Atlético were my direct rivals for three seasons but I always felt a relationship of respect with the club. I have respect for what they are doing because to be in a Champions League semi-final is not for every club, and to have the possibility of winning the league against Barcelona and
Real Madrid is something that deserves my respect."

Mourinho also demanded the best form from his players - who cruised past Liverpool with 2-0 in the Barclay's League last weekend.

"It is a knockout game, a game of details, a game where maybe one goal is the difference. It is a game where everybody needs to be at the top level. For the 90 minutes the players are more important
than the manager, I trust them a lot and that helps me to be calm," the Special One added.

"Against Paris we were in a position where we had nothing to lose and no one really expecting us to turn the result around. At
the moment, it is a 'clean' result, it is 0-0 and the chances are equal. We are at home but a score draw is good for them and not for us; you cannot say who has the advantage."

On the other hand, visiting manager, Simeone, had this to say:

"The confidence is always there, especially in a semi-final of the Champions League. That's already a massive statement. My players are excited and keen. We know
we'll have to work hard tomorrow in a very difficult game, and we'll have to put in an enormous effort to get a positive result.

"I'm not focusing on where we are at the moment. I just want us to keep moving forward, not on what we've achieved. I usually let you guys talk about the progress we've undertaken in the last three years of success, but I'm not comparing Atlético Madrid with Chelsea, a team who won the Champions League two years ago. In the end the best team will win. With our hard work and our enthusiasm, we can do well and maybe et a positive result.

"I'm a football man. I respect different ways of setting out your team. It's about what's the best way for a specific game or a specific opposition. To defend well is not easy, so I congratulate teams who do that well. To attack well isn't easy, either. So you have to congratulate managers
who get their sides doing that. Football evolves. There is no 'best way'. It depends on the manager spending time with his players, talking different set-ups and tactics, different approaches and styles.

"But, in the end, it's important the team, the club, the institution wins, regardless of how it is achieved. There is no 'one
way' to play football. If we all played the same way, it would be very boring. You can play ten at the back or ten up front. What matters is the result."

The emergent winner faces Real Madrid in the UEFA Final in Lisbon on May 24.

Champions League: What To Expect In The Semi Finals

With the success of the UEFA Champions League draw which took place at Nyon, Switzerland, a wonderful set of matches is set to come.

Former Madrid star Luis Figo was in the house to carry out what he was paid to do. Here is the fixture list following the draw:

Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be playing the first leg as the home team, at the Bernabeu and the Vicente Calderon respectively.

'Messi took people for idiots!'

Former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has hit out at Lionel Messi for his awry performance in Barcelona 's Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid in Wednesday.

Report says that the Argentine covered a distance of just 6.8 kilometres during his side's 1-0 loss at the Vicente Calderon - which was half of the distance covered by match-winner Koke and only 1.4km more than Barca keeper Jose Pinto.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner also spurned two clear-cut chances in the first half - opportunities which could have seen them go through.

What is the problem with Real Madrid?

 
After a shocking defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday, the world's big round eye is fixed on Real Madrid - as people inquire to know what the actual problem is, with the Spanish super club.

Cristiano Ronaldo felt so disappointed with the result of the concluded game. He had earlier boasted, after losing to Barcelona last week, that his side would emerge Champions of the La Liga at all cost.

Nonetheless, the outcome of the game yesterday undoubtedly left the Portuguese captain worried; as they now face a stiff competition with table leaders Atletico Madrid and second placed Barcelona.