Paulo Ferreira

Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira has said that Chelsea can go by the route of Liverpool to winning the Champions League this season.

Chelsea have not been the favourites to win the Champions League this season unlike in previous years. However, they have failed to make more than one final appearance in the Champions League, despite being the favourites. Paulo Ferreira, however, reckons that Chelsea can do a Liverpool this season by winning the Champions League, despite not being the favourites. Liverpool lifted the trophy back in 2005 when they were struggling in the league, and Ferreira believes that Chelsea can do the same this time around as well.

Ferreira has also quoted a number of examples – AC Milan in 2007 and FC Porto in 2004 – for the number of teams that have managed to win this premier competition against all the odds. Ferreira was a surprise inclusion into the Chelsea team that faced Benfica in the first leg. Despite not having played a lot of matches this season, Ferreira surprised everyone with a splendid performance against Benfica – the match that Chelsea won 1-0. It provides them now with a great opportunity to get into the semifinals where a potential match against the likes of AC Milan or Barcelona awaits them.

“What happened with Liverpool that season shows anything can happen in this competition. Everyone can win. If you remember in 2004, no one expected to see Porto win the Champions League with all these top clubs either. Can we win the Champions League? Why not? We have to believe. We have to believe in our players and our work,” Ferreira ahead of the second leg at match with Benfica. Ferreira, though, does not remain overconfident, as he is well aware of the attacking abilities of Benfica.