Sunday, October 29, 2006

Mourinho hails Hilario

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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has concerns over his strikers after yesterday's 2-0 win at Sheffield United.
Mourinho revealed he lost Andriy Shevchenko before kick-off with a leg muscle injury - then watched as Didier Drogba limp out of
action at the interval with a damaged right foot.

Both are now big doubts for the visit to Barcelona but Mourinho insisted he would seek inspiration from third-choice goalkeeper Hilario, whose early penalty save helped seal today's success.
Mourinho said: "In the first
game against Barcelona we played without two keepers and maybe now is the time to play without two forwards and I will just take defenders and midfielders."
Mourinho would not be drawn on the extent of Shevchenko's injury but added of the withdrawal of Drogba: "It was not a precaution - he could not play. He is in a lot of pain at the moment."
Mourinho hailed Hilario - whom he had preferred to the fit-again Carlo Cudicini - for his 17th minute spot-kick save when he dived to his left to deny Blades striker Danny Webber.
His heroics helped the champions ride out an early storm in front of a passionate home crowd before Frank Lampard fired the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute and Michael Ballack's header sealed the points.
Mourinho said: "He (Hilario) is amazing. He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save. You never know if Sheffield United are 1-0 up.
"I am happy with the way we fought against difficult opposition. They have their style and they play with their strength and power. They are a team with a lot of enthusiasm."