Jose Mourinho believes Inter Milan can go all the way in the
Champions League if they overcome Chelsea in their last-16 tie.
The two teams will meet in Italy next Wednesday before
playing the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 16.
It is one of the most exciting ties of the round and Mourinho
admits Inter would have preferred to face someone else in their
quest to reach the last eight.
However, the Portuguese is relishing the challenge of facing
his former club and has reiterated that he does not believe Chelsea
have changed much since his departure in 2007.
"It will be very hard to advance and I think both Inter and
Chelsea could have wished for an easier opponent at such an early
stage in the tournament, but I think if we get past Chelsea we can
reach the final," he told Sport magazine.
"I don't think that many things have changed since I left the
club. If you take Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka away, you
have almost the same squad I left.
"Chelsea can use the fact that their team have played
together since 2004, but it is also important to note that Inter
have won four championships in a row with almost the same team."
Mourinho insists that he will not allow himself to get
emotional when he returns to Stamford Bridge next month.
"I only have good memories from Chelsea. I won two
championships in three years and I think I would have won many more
titles," he said.
"I'm confident that I would have won the Champions League
with Chelsea at some point too. But sentimental? No.
"Maybe I will think about Chelsea for one or two seconds when
I return to Stamford Bridge, but it won't be anything I will spend
a lot of time thinking about. I will face this match like any
other."
