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The knockout phase of the Champions League is peppered with mouth-watering ties after Friday's draw in Nyon served up some high-profile reunions: David Beckham will return to Old Trafford with AC Milan, Jose Mourinho heads back to Stamford Bridge with Inter and £29.7 million striker Karim Benzema returns to Lyon with Real Madrid.
Chelsea's clash with Inter is the one that really whets my appetite. This tie has a back story of such depth that there is sure to be fireworks ahead of kick off, not least because proud Nerazzurri boss Mourinho has a point to prove to the man who booted him out of Stamford Bridge back in September 2007 - Blues owner Roman Abramovich.
It was Mourhino's mouth, as much as anything, which repeatedly landed him in trouble as Chelsea boss and the Portuguese has not changed his ways since resuming a trophy-laden managerial career at the San Siro. In his first season he guided the Nerazzurri to the Serie A title but upset almost every opposing manager, not to mention the Italian press, along the way.
One such disgruntled counterpart was AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is now the man in charge at Chelsea. The Milan rivals endured an ongoing feud in Italy and when Ancelotti left Serie A to join Chelsea, Mourinho declared: "Ancelotti is no friend of mine".
The Inter manager's modus operandi is to get under the skin of his Champions League opponents (remember his spat with Barcelona?) and we should all look forward to the carefully crafted snipes Mourinho will surely utter in the build up to February's clash at the San Siro.
The best of the rest surely has to be David Beckham's return to Old Trafford to face Manchester United - the club where he emerged as a youngster and spent ten trophy-laden years. The former England skipper is sure to receive a hero's welcome, but can Milan do what Inter couldn't last season and beat the Red Devils?
Both sides are weaker than last term; the Rossoneri have lost Kaka and United are without Cristiano Ronaldo. The last time these two teams met it was Milan who triumphed but I expect the result to be reversed.
In fact, despite the fact that two of England's three qualifiers are involved in the most high-profile clashes of the last 16, all three, including Arsenal, who face Porto, will expect to reach the quarter-finals.
Comments
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Posted by Tony on 12/18/2009
this is a clash indeed,but if chelsea continue in this form that is conceeding goal through setpiece,they will receive a shock of their life though inter is not playing as espected as they have good players in their squad.the match will go either way depending on who is more fiter and less injuries on the day.
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Posted by SUSRUT on 12/18/2009
beckhams gotta have a tough time in old trafford.......united 2 go all d way.........
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Posted by Roland on 12/18/2009
Solid fixture for Chelsea, this is the real test for Ancelotti. Can he do it? Yes he can.
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Posted by Fergal Mac Mahon on 12/18/2009
All this talk of Chelsea and defending set pieces is all press fuelled rubbish. Anybody who has actually seen the goals involved in the set pieces could see that the luck involved borders on the outragous and had very little to do with bad defending as such. Add to that whether Inter can actually play that high ball into the box game, in my opinion they can't. Mourinho, as usual will get all the headlines and Chelsea will progress to the 1/4 finals.
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Posted by h nassor on 12/18/2009
Well it seems everybody see Mn U as weak, well I dont blame them, but in February most of their injured players will be available, and some new players will be adjusted to the team play. The hunger for glory is there so I dont see any thing less than victory.
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Posted by Eric F on 12/18/2009
I keep seeing this is the year for England, but Man U will not just breeze through. AC have been getting stronger and stronger, with a win at Madrid and a draw against them at home, they are finally getting their grove and with Pato and Ronaldinho playing better each match, they will have their hands full. Even with all their injured players comming back, will all of them be back in form. And if Huntelaar starts to play like everyone has expected, I believe we will see a close match but AC comming out on top.
Now as for Inter, i think Jose's mouth will be the doom of him and this will be his last year at Inter as he will be sacked by Carlo and Chelsea and to be honest, I believe it will not even be close, as Inter does not stand a chance.
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Posted by Pedro Medina on 12/18/2009
Its a shame that the match-up for the knock-out stage is what it is. Good games lined up but I personally would of liked to see Chelsea-Inter and Man U-AC Milan in the quarters. But overall, is almost a dream come true for every footballer. Any team at this stage can go through to the next round depending on who's hurt and how the team is playing at game time.
So, everyone enjoy the games.... I know I will.
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Posted by Douglas on 12/18/2009
The Manchester united backline better not give away too many cheap free kicks. We know what beckham can do....
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Posted by Max Intec on 12/18/2009
I doubt if Chelsea will make it past Mourinho, but it will be a good game to watch. As for Man U, I dont know! Their defence looks fragile to stop Ronaldinho, Pato n co. Remember what Becks n Pirlo can do when behind the ball during free kicks!!!!!! Arsenal looks pretty on course to go through!
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Posted by Benoit on 12/18/2009
Chelsea-Inter is an intriguing tie, to say the least. It will be interesting to see how Jose is ready to put down his old team ahead of the matches to create the old mind games, but then risking to alienate the Chelsea fans and lose his status of cult figure in South West London... We'll see if he really cares about his legacy in that club.
By the way, let's not forget that all the Italian players at Inter probably do not relish playing a team managed by Mr Ancelotti and may give Chelsea a little too much respect!
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Posted by BESO GIDEON on 12/18/2009
man u al d way.bekam is welcome,but man u is not a respecter of persons as made it has been made clear by evra.we shal go 2 finals n d trophy is ours.GO 4 IT MAN U!!!
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Posted by Mark on 12/18/2009
Chelsea v Inter will be an interesting clash. Two very astute managers and two teams capable of excellence. The difference will be on the day and having an individual player of extra quality, enter.............Drogba! Chelsea to win.
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Posted by Alex Gazza on 12/19/2009
Well i do believe that C Ancelotti has a tough test against Jose's Inter...which is going to be sparky 4 sure...i bet victory is certain 4 CHELSEA! FORZA CHELSEA
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Posted by ricky c on 12/19/2009
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Posted by ted on 12/19/2009
The draw is obviously rigged!
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Posted by Ginjal on 12/19/2009
Welcome back Beckham, the best right footed midfielder Man U ever had. But, there will be no mercy against u n Milan.
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Posted by wise boy on 12/19/2009
guys jose said, he's not talking to the media anymore so let hope he tell chelsea team to give him his christmas present. i personally love this man. he brings ppl to the stadiums for what he does best. we need a man like him in the beautiful game.
jose! jose!! jose!!! cheers milan.
also as much as i love chelsea and seing two of my teams meeting at this stage. hhmmm! God bless the best bluessssss!
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Posted by Oladimeji Akere on 12/19/2009
This is year for the BLUES! Inter will try so hard but I can't see them going through to the quater final. However, a little relax on Chelsea side may cost them the ticket. All things been equal, if Chelsea can be stronger team we saw at the beginning of the season, they are indeed a thorn to the inconsistent Inter.
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Posted by Gary on 12/19/2009
Even though I love both teams, and Jose is one of my favorite coaches, I have to go with Chelsea.
Beckham going back to Old Trafford is wonderful, but I seriously doubt AC Milan have a chance against Man. U.
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Posted by Milan 1963 on 12/19/2009
As a Milan die hard I of course hope for Milan and Chelsea to go through however as an Italian I would like for all Italian teams to pass this round of qualifiers. However I believe it will be very close fights on all fronts, I don't think Chelsea and ManU will have it easy and I hope we will have great football to enjoy and no controversy whatever the outcomes. As a side note, during first round and now this second round games there have been too many coincidences like Barca facing Inter with Ibra and Eto' o switching team, Milan and Real, now again Mourinho facing his old team, Becks and Benzema the same, is that just only luck or is UEFA helping chance to make it more exciting????
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Posted by baba tallis on 12/19/2009
now we separate men from boys. chelsea and manu should go trhough as english league is so strong now
Posted by promix blue on 12/19/2009
It's going to be a standing ovation for the "Special One" but it ends all there..!!! where "D Blues" would be progressing to the next round?
Come February.... the countdown begins......
Posted by kim on 12/19/2009
Posted by gabrosilis on 12/25/2009
when you see chelsea and see inter you will know that there is no similarity the difference is clear go chelsea and archieve your goal go and win your crown and make us proud
mourinho no way for you
Posted by Dan Dappo on 02/04/2010
chelsea and man U will go through. Italian clubs are not as strong and physical as their english counterparts and I think that these games will br highly physical
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