Zico: ‘Negative pressure’ dragging Chelsea down

FENERBAHCE coach Zico has claimed that tonight’s Champions League opponents Chelsea were affected by ‘negative pressure’ during the quarter-final first-leg defeat in Istanbul last week.

The Brazilian boss also suggested that the Blues were not able to respond to Fener’s change in tempo after he brought on his two substitutes, one of whom, Colin Kazim-Richards, scored the equalising goal. “Fenerbahce has the honour of writing history as we have never gone this far in the Champions League before,” he said.

“We will have to play better than usual to go any further, but for Chelsea it is normal to be in the last eight and they have an obligation to go further, and that is a negative pressure for them.”

Zico has been hailed as a hero in Turkey since the game, but he said the victory will count for nothing if Fenerbahce cannot make the 2-1 advantage count at Stamford Bridge tonight.

“We showed that playing sensibly, closing their midfield, avoiding the creation of moves there in the middle, and putting our heart and soul in to stop their fast pace, we simply beat them fair and square.

“In Brazil, it’s called ‘a zebra’ when a small team beats a stronger opponent. But nowhere have I seen talk that a small team from Turkey has beaten a strong team from England. No-one, even in England, is saying we were lucky. They started slowly, like a boxer feeling his way, and even if they could see our tactics, we had passion and guts and that made the difference.”

Fenerbahce defender Roberto Carlos, who is dreaming of another Champions League trophy after winning the competition with Real Madrid in 2002, backed up Zico’s comments. “Frankly I didn’t expect us to get through to the quarter-finals, but when you think about it maybe it’s not such a surprise after all: we have a really good team and we deserve our place in the last eight,” said the Brazilian, who missed the first leg through injury.

“I’m convinced we’ll get through. I know they’re all experienced players but we are going to hurt them. I’m dreaming of another Champions League final and another trophy to add to my collection.”

Zico has coached Japan in a World Cup finals but he claimed the win over Chelsea was one of his coaching career highlights. “As coach of the Japan national team, I had to play against many strong squads, but as a club coach, so far things were much more on a level,” he continued.

“Of course playing against great clubs in Turkey is challenging; we also played Sevilla, Inter Milan, and it was important to beat them, to show we can get to a higher level, and play against the VIP clubs.

“But this was the first time I have been on the bench of a club that is not in the top ten of Europe, and facing up against a team with three or four truly world-class players in their side, and a squad that plays on a higher level to 99% of the teams in the world.”