Avram Grant believes Chelsea have the manpower which can lead to glory on two fronts.
The coach of Israel saw his side keep up the pressure on Manchester United, Arsenal and at arm's length - with a 2-0 victory in the Barclays Premier League against Manchester City on Saturday.
Next up are Zico's Fenerbahce at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will try to support a picket deficit of 2-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals.
They go into the match in good shape after a comfortable victory against City, even though half of the grant has changed with the European team match crucial to mind.
An own goal from skipper Richard Dunne after six minutes gave Chelsea the perfect start.
He got his bearings wrong after Nicolas Anelka delivered a cross from the left and headed beyond his attempt to release goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Chelsea then came under some pressure before adding a second in the 53rd minute with a cool finish after Salomon Kalou impressive Michael Essien has threaded the ball into his path.
Anelka has added almost a third when his header came back off the bar in an impressive display by the title chasers.
Key players Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho are among those expected to be recalled against the Turks, after being idle on Saturday.
Grant is convinced his side can turn things around and get a place in the semi-final against either Arsenal or Liverpool, whose tie in the balance after it drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium.(*)
Grant Still believes
Rio injury worry for United
Rio Ferdinand has given Sir Alex Ferguson another defensive headache after leaving the Riverside with his foot in a protective cover following Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.
US can not afford to lose time for Ferdinand with fellow centre-back Nemanja Vidic out for three weeks and some crucial matches ahead in the Premier League and the Champions League.
The draw with Boro saw United just three points ahead of Chelsea, and they face Arsenal next weekend before going to Stamford Bridge on 26 April.
Ferdinand limped off during the match and left the stadium with his foot in a plastic casing, as a precautionary measure.
Ferguson said: "We hope that it is not serious in Rio, but he was limping for too long.
"The danger was to keep practising with him when he was limping, he was not playing to its full level of performance."
It seems unlikely that Ferdinand will play in the Champions League second leg against Roma, especially with Gerard Pique impressive Ferguson replacing the England defender.
"Pique came on and did absolutely brilliant, it was absolutely wonderful, and I think that really helped us," said Ferguson.
United had taken the lead at a frigid courtesy of Riverside Cristiano Ronaldo's 37th goal of the season, but two goals from Brazilian striker Afonso Alves put Boro ahead.
It has been left at the end of Wayne Rooney deflected effort to ensure a share of the spoils - and Ferguson admitted United had flirted with defeat.
He added: "We could have lost the game there is no doubt they have some chances and the defence of our time was somewhat haphazard, I think.
"But at other times, we could have won the game because some of the quality of our football was fantastic.
"At 1-0 we looked very strong and controlled the match and Wayne Rooney was unlucky to be given offside when he was clear through - it was not out Thursday
"They changed back to the 4-4-2 formation obtained an equaliser and I thought it was a great football game after that. It was end to end and both teams deserve a lot of credit for the production of a football game like that at this time of the year.
"At times we played fantastic football but in the context of the game Middlesbrough has also produced some great moments and it was just a fantastic game."
Ferguson insisted United have shown that they will keep fighting every inch of the way for the title.
He said: "The nature of the club is that we never give in and that's a great quality to have at this time of year.(*)
Wenger Displeased With Result
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rued what he saw as a costly refereeing error after his side's 1-1 home draw with Liverpool, but feels that the tie - as well as the Premiership race - remains wide open.
Expressing surprise at how his side failed to win, he said to Sky Sports, "It's difficult to understand because we had a lot of possession and a lot of chances. It's very difficult to accept when you don't win the game. We were a bit unlucky as well; of course when they equalised I felt we were really unlucky, and we were unlucky with a big decision of the referee's on the penalty.
"In a game like that it's difficult to take, but we have to swallow it."
Indeed, the penalty incident seemed to resonate particularly with the Frenchman.
"Was it even more disappointing when you see the referee's position? That's what's most disappointing," he responded to the interviewer.
"Sometimes the referee is in a bad position, but he was five yards away from Kuyt, and in fairness it was a 100% penalty." (*)
source: goal.com
Liverpool Edge Arsenal In Round One
The hosts had the best of the play, and the best of the chances, but a backs-to-the-wall performance from brave Liverpool saw them maintain an advantage...
Liverpool managed a quick Dirk Kuyt equaliser to match Adebayor's early strike, and although they were to find themselves dominated for huge spells of the game, they left with a priceless advantage.It was a cagey start from both sides with nerves perhaps the dominant attribute - nobody wanted to concede the early goal.
However, Arsenal began to establish a passing rhythm, and with the Reds' (playing in black) defensive midfield not quite into the game just yet, they had plenty of space to exploit in the middle.Clichy and Fabregas were particularly active, but despite the positive look to their overall play, there was little end product.
At the other end Gerrard was able to beat Almunia with a rather tame cross which eventually met Hyypia, but the Finn, with plenty of time, blasted his shot to a wayward nowhere.
Eventually, though, there was to be a breakthrough. However, it came not from silky passing play, but instead a set piece.
After Van Persie won a corner off Reina, in came the ball from the Dutchman, and Emmanuel Adebayor dropped off the goalline, got in between the centre-backs, and rose unmarked to head home. A simple goal - a well-executed one, but simple - and Liverpool were in trouble.
But no sooner had the Merseysiders kicked off than they'd put the ball in the net.(*)
source: goal.com
Draw, Hyypiä was satisfied
"Of course the away goal we got here is a good thing and the draw, so if we win at Anfield we are through," he said.
Dirk Kuyt bundled Steven Gerrard's low cross over the line for Liverpool's equaliser on 26 minutes, shortly after Emmanuel Adebayor had headed Arsenal in front. The speed with which Liverpool hit back was an indication of the character running through Rafael Benítez's side, but Hyypiä believes Arsenal should have been prevented from taking the lead in the first place. (*)
Pallister Praises 'Fantastic' Rio
Ex-Manchester United defender Gary Pallister has confessed his admiration for Rio Ferdinand following his commanding performance in United’s Champions League quarterfinal against Roma.
The stand-in captain was authoritative in his command of the Red Devils’ defence at the Stadio Olympico, leading his team to a clean sheet while goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney gave United a 2-0 advantage to take into the second leg at Old Trafford next week.
And Pallister was particularly impressed by Ferdinand’s showing after his partner in crime, Nemanja Vidic, was forced off the pitch through injury late in the first half.
"Rio was fantastic," said Pallister.
"I wondered how he would react after Vidic went off injured, but he was absolutely superb."
The 29-year-old England international, who captained his country for the first time last week against France, has been involved in certain off-field dramas since his ₤29.5 million transfer from Leeds in 2002. Most notable among these was his eight-month ban for failing to appear at a routine drug test.
But Pallister believes that Ferdinand has matured markedly in his time at Old Trafford, developing true leadership qualities that make him a prime candidate to captain both club and country.
"Rio bosses the back four now," he said. "That's why he was captain against Roma and why Fabio Capello made him England captain.
"It's something he does a lot more now. At the start of his United career he didn't really do that.
"I think Gary Neville's absence has meant that he has had to come forwrad. Gary not being in the team has seen Rio come out of his shell." (*)
source: goal.com
Evra preaches caution
Patrice Evra insists United cannot bank on a place in the Champions League semi-finals, despite establishing a healthy advantage over Roma in Tuesday's quarter-final, first leg.
2-0 away win makes the Reds favourites to book a semi-final berth against either Barcelona or Schalke, but Evra insists there is still plenty of work to be done in next week’s second leg.
“We’re very happy with that performance but there’s still a second game to think about,” the defender told MUTV. “In football you never know but we’re very satisfied with our position.
“I think the team played very well and we did a very professional job. It’s now important we stay professional and hopefully we’ll get through to the semi-final.”
United registered a valuable clean sheet despite the loss of Nemanja Vidic through injury, and Evra felt the display of substitute John O’Shea underlined the Reds’ strength in depth.
“It was important to keep a clean sheet and we did our job. We have a big squad and John O’Shea showed how strong it is when he came on and filled in for Nemanja. We have confidence in whoever plays.”
source: manutd.com
Ronaldo: We Really Want To Win This
scored the second to practically seal the tie.
"Yes, [it was] a very good performance," said Ronaldo, speaking on ITV after the game. "Everyone knows Roma are a good team. It was a tough game, they played very well. But we got some chances and scored, and that was the difference."
Speaking of his own goal - his 36th of the season, he said: "It was a good header, and I feel very happy because I scored and helped the team win. We needed to win. Now the next game is at
home and we need to win again."
It took some rugged defending, though, and the winger also pointed towards the collective effort, and towards the desire to win the competition. "Yes, everyone did their part in this game,"
he said. "This is good competition. We really want to win it, and we showed that."
Rooney hails solid backline
Despite the loss of Nemanja Vidic through injury just after the half-hour, the defence stood firm as they recorded their 23rd clean sheet in 37 games and their fifth on the trot. "The defence was brilliant and all season they've been the same so hopefully that will continue," Rooney told Uefa.com.
"I thought we defended well as a team. It was important to try to keep a clean sheet and then hopefully nick a goal and we did that just before half-time and it put us in a good position in the second half.
"We knew Roma would come out and attack us and it created a bit of space for us. We had the two counterattacks and made them count."