Chelsea are finally putting on a united front — and the club couldn’t have chosen a better time.
Despite chasing an unprecedented four trophies, the season has resembled a soap opera with manager Jose Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich barely on speaking terms.
But a brief rapprochement came on Sunday as the pair hugged and exchanged warm words to celebrate Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn, which set up an FA Cup final date with Manchester United.
”I wasn’t in the dressing room when he came in because I was doing my tour of the media,” Mourinho said. ”But I met him outside and told him ‘Congratulations.’ He told me ‘Congratulations to you too.”’
Monday’s Daily Telegraph greeted the exchange with the headline ”Mourinho back in the good books”.
The embrace may not stop speculation about the Portuguese manager’s future, but it will boost the players at a critical point in their season.
Having already won the League Cup and secured a place in the FA Cup final, Chelsea also has its sights set on the English Premier League and the Champions League.
”We can win everything, but we can lose everything too,” Mourinho said. ”Don’t put pressure on me.”
Standing in the way of at least two of those trophies is Manchester United.
”I wouldn’t be sad if we had to play them three times in a fortnight,” Mourinho said. ”The way we have both played this season is absolutely unbelievable. We are both still fighting for the three major trophies, which is amazing.”
Second-placed Chelsea must beat relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday to reduce United’s three-point lead in the Premiership.
United visits Stamford Bridge on May 9 in the penultimate round of the season, in what could be a title-deciding showdown.
”We have to keep this run going and make sure we go into that game with a chance to be champions,” Mourinho said.
Four days after the May 19 FA Cup final at rebuilt Wembley Stadium, United and Chelsea could meet again in the Champions League final in Athens, Greece.
Both English teams have reached the European semifinals, where Chelsea will face Liverpool, and United will take on AC Milan.
”It’s a game of nerves over the next few weeks because we know if one side makes mistakes the other one can take all,” Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said. ”We think it’s all like one big game.”
Chelsea faces a grueling five weeks. After Sunday’s two-hour FA Cup semifinal, the players couldn’t even find the energy to crack open champagne to toast the winning goals by Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.
”The lads are a little bit tired for celebrations,” captain John Terry said. ”But we realise there are still games to be won in the Premier League and it will be tough.” – Sapa-AP