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Di Matteo urges defiance as Benfica visit Chelsea

Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has called for "the same attitude we had against Napoli" as Chelsea FC look to defend a lead Jorge Jesus insists his SL Benfica side can reverse.

Di Matteo urges defiance as Benfica visit Chelsea
Di Matteo urges defiance as Benfica visit Chelsea ©UEFA.com

Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea FC's interim manager, is refusing to let his side rest on the laurels of a one-goal aggregate lead over SL Benfica he describes as "basically nothing". He has called for a repeat of their performance against SSC Napoli when his charges recovered a two-goal first-leg deficit to reach the last eight. Visiting coach Jorge Jesus insists his team can "turn the tables" on their hosts by "taking the game to Chelsea".

Chelsea
Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo
This tie is far from over. They have scored in every away game so far this Champions League season. We know it'll be a difficult task and we must approach it like the Napoli game. It's a dangerous position. This is half-time. You're leading 1-0 at half-time. A 1-0 is basically nothing and the players are aware of this. We will have to go into the game with the right attitude. The same attitude as we had against Napoli, as we have to win the game and qualify; nothing is done yet and we're aware of that.

I didn't think [the first-leg lineup] was a brave selection. I thought it was the right selection with the players we had available. It will be the same tomorrow: the selection will reflect the players who are in the best form and shape to play a strong Benfica team.

I think this team has enough experience to deal with pressure. The players have experienced a lot of matches like this and they can raise their game to perform in these pressure matches. They are used to it. Obviously Benfica will have to try to win the tie so we expect them play an attacking style and try to score. I don't think they'll go crazy, but they will keep their style; with the technical players they have they will try to score.

Weekend result
Saturday: Aston Villa FC 2-4 Chelsea (Collins 77, Lichaj 80; Sturridge 9, Ivanović 51 83, Torres 90+2) 
Čech; Ivanović, Luiz (Cahill 45+1), Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Sturridge, Mata (Malouda 74), Kalou (Ramires 59); Torres.

• Fernando Torres scored his first Premier League goal in 1,035 minutes as Chelsea claimed only their second win in 14 years at Villa Park. The Blues had scored just two goals in their four previous league outings.

Team news
Didier Drogba (toe) and Raul Meireles (knee) are available after coming through training on Tuesday evening, as did David Luiz, who went off with an ankle knock at Villa Park.

Benfica
Coach Jorge Jesus
Chelsea have the upper hand but we're going to approach this game as though we won the first leg. Chelsea had quite a lot of luck in the first game, as we dominated for long spells, but I'm confident we can turn the tables and do the same as they did to us in Lisbon.

We are going to be attacking. We need to play as a team and we need to score, that's obvious – so we're going to take the game to Chelsea. They played for the 0-0 and ended up getting a win. They're going to be dangerous from set pieces, but we need to play to our strengths and cancel out their advantage.

Every coach wants to win the Champions League, but at this moment in time I am more worried about reaching the semi-finals. I have more problems than Chelsea so I need to focus on this game before I can think about winning the competition.

Weekend result
Saturday: Benfica 2-1 SC Braga (Witsel 77pen, Bruno César 90+2; Elderson 82)
Artur; Capdevila, Luisão, Vítor (Matić 68), Pereira; Gaitán, Witsel, Javi García, Bruno César; Rodrigo (Nolito 79), Cardozo (Oliveira 64).

• Bruno César's last-gasp goal earned Benfica a win that took them above Braga and into second in the Portuguese Liga.

Team news
Jesus says Javi García will slot in at centre-back if Luisão fails to recover from a left knee injury sustained on Saturday. Miguel Vítor (thigh), Ezequiel Garay (knee) and Jardel (thigh) have all remained in Lisbon.

Match fact
Benfica have appeared in 15 European Cup quarter-finals, winning eight and losing seven – including all three against English sides. They also featured in the last-eight group stage in 1991/92.

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