Ferreira's Porto playing to win

2Slick

FC Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira believes his side must capitalise on home advantage when they welcome former manager José Mourinho and his current employers Chelsea FC to the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday night.

'Play to win'
Having finished second in Group G, the Portuguese title-holders will host the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against their English counterparts, and the coach is eager for a win that would boost their chances of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since Mourinho led them to a second European Champion Clubs' Cup in 2004. "We'll play the same way we have for the last six months – to win," Ferreira said. "We've never lost our identity and will approach Wednesday's game with that in mind."

Important victory
After successive league defeats, Porto returned to winning ways on Friday with a 4-0 thrashing of A. Naval 1º Maio, a result Ferreira believes shows the desire necessary to overcome a visiting team who have won only one of three away games in the competition this season. "Above all, my players want to win this match," said the coach, who is without Pedro Emanuel, Jorginho (both achilles) and Anderson (leg), although centre-back Ricardo Costa and winger Ricardo Quaresma return.

'Strong as ever'
Chelsea might have scored 18 goals without reply in winning their last six fixtures in all competitions, but Ferreira prefers to concentrate on his own side and has no specific plans in mind to counter the Londoners' attacking threat. "We will not change anything except the small details we alter for every opponent," he said. "Chelsea are a very strong team, I don't know what their lineup will be on Wednesday night, but one thing's for sure: they will be as strong as ever."

'Two wonderful years'
Mourinho, meanwhile, suffered a 2-1 reverse on his first return to the Dragão two seasons ago, and is looking forward to the opportunity to put the record straight. "It's always good to come back, I had two wonderful years here," said the Chelsea boss, who is likely to include Michael Ballack after a hamstring strain although Khalid Boulahrouz is out for a month with a dislocated shoulder. "Porto are a good team with good players and play with confidence. That's very important; three years ago nobody believed they could win the Champions League so they have the right to believe they can win it again."

Home help
Having lost just once at home in Europe during his Stamford Bridge reign - against FC Barcelona at this stage last year en route to elimination - Mourinho is justifiably confident a favourable away result will leave his side with one foot in the last eight. "We're very strong at home and the tie will not be settled here; neither team is going to win by three or four goals," he added. "You don't know who are favourites to win the trophy, but we were in one of the strongest groups and guaranteed progress [with a game to spare]. We are a strong team and have a good chance."

Probable teams
Porto: Helton; Bosingwa, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fucile; Paulo Assunção, Raul Meireles, Lucho González; Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro López, Hélder Postiga.

Chelsea: Petr Čech; Geremi, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Wayne Bridge; Claude Makelele, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack; Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko.