Porto ready for class reunion

By Ben Lyttleton
 
FC Porto coach Víctor Fernández believes his reigning European champions will be up against one of the tournament favourites when they take on Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Unhelpful comments
The pressure is on Fernández, who replaced José Mourinho's short-lived successor Luigi Del Neri in the summer, to continue Porto's rich vein of success. The Spaniard has already been irritated by comments from his predecessor that the Porto squad he has at his disposal is stronger than the one Mourinho guided to the UEFA Champions League title earlier this year.

Chelsea visit
Yet Fernández has played down talk of Porto defending their crown and insisted that Chelsea are more likely contenders for the competition. "On Wednesday, we will have a good chance to measure our level because we are going to play against a top team in Europe - if they're not the very best, they are certainly one of the best," he told uefa.com.

Familiar methods
Despite the daunting challenge of following Mourinho, the new Porto coach appears to have already won over his new charges. "His coaching methods are very different to those of Del Neri and more similar to José Mourinho's, which we had grown used to," said Porto captain Jorge Costa. "Fernández looks capable of getting the best from us."

Costinha contribution
Porto have prepared for Chelsea by recording their first league win of the season at the weekend. The reigning Portuguese champions had drawn their first four games this term - including a goalless home match against Group H opponents PFC CSKA Moskva - before a Costinha header beat Vitória SC on Saturday night.

Old boys
The win moved Porto up to sixth place in the SuperLiga and boosted confidence ahead of the eagerly-awaited reunion with Chelsea's former Porto men Mourinho, Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho. "Winning our last match is great preparation for the game against Chelsea," said Jorge Costa. "It was a victory that we deserved because we showed unity as a team. We have been working hard and it was only the results that did not reflect that."

Fernández's faith
Fernández was also pleased with the timing of the win. "The team are gaining in belief in their play. We knew it would take time and we can still get better," said the Spaniard, who coached Real Zaragoza to a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final win over Arsenal FC in 1994/95.

No sentiment
Which is just as well for Porto. Mourinho has already claimed that he is at an advantage because he knows so much about his former club. Jorge Costa, meanwhile, will put sentiment aside for the reunion with Ferreira and Carvalho, saying: "Before and during the game, it will be like a normal encounter and is bound to be competitive. After the game, I'm sure we will have time to talk."

Diego determined
One player keen to make an impression is Diego, who turned down Chelsea in order to complete his move to Porto. The young Brazilian, one of a host of summer arrivals which also included Greece defender Giourkas Seitaridis, Ricardo Quaresma, Hugo Leal and Luís Fabiano, said: "During negotiation with clubs, me and my father always asked if the team would be playing in the Champions League and I'm just pleased that I'm playing for the current champions."
 
Missing men
He added: "I have heard a lot about José Mourinho and the two [ex-Porto] players and it sounds like we are going to miss them a lot." Porto may find out just how much on Wednesday night.