Mata sets sights on Chelsea Euro fightback

12 Mar, 2012

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has told his team-mates they can stage a dramatic fightback against Napoli if they treat the Champions League last 16 second-leg tie like a cup final.
After a 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Naples, Mata knows Chelsea are underdogs heading into Wednesday's return at Stamford Bridge, but the Spanish star is convinced Roberto Di Matteo's team can secure the 2-0 win that would send them through to the last eight on away goals. Mata insists Chelsea, who have won both their matches under interim boss Di Matteo following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, should take inspiration from their perfect European record at Stamford Bridge this season.
"In football, nothing is impossible," he said. "At Stamford Bridge, this Champions League, we had good results in the group - 3-0, 2-0 and 5-0. "All the supporters, for sure, will be cheering us. It's a final for us and I think we can do it." While Napoli's attacking trio of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi are capable of troubling the Chelsea rearguard, Mata believes his side's forwards should be able to exploit the Italians' own weaknesses at the back.

Read Comments