By 40 Years A Blue
January 6 2006

'The Special One' spoke of his love for the FA Cup this afternoon in his pre-match FA Cup press conference before the third round tie against League One high-flyers Huddersfield tomorrow at sold out Stamford Bridge.

Jose said "On old black and white TVs as a kid, I was all year waiting for the FA Cup Final. With my father who was also in love with the game, we were always waiting for the small team in the Final to beat the giant; always waiting for extra time and always had the feeling the players could run all day.

"These are the thoughts you have as a seven, eight, nine, ten year-old. There was always a great atmosphere and it was the most enjoyable game you could get on TV at that time. There was no Premiership on Portuguese TV.

"So I can imagine the FA Cup in Wembley," Mourinho said, moving his thoughts to the future. "Last season the Carling Cup Final in Cardiff was beautiful. The FA Cup is a bigger competition than the Carling Cup and Wembley means more to football than the Cardiff stadium, with respect to the Carling Cup and Cardiff.

"I was in Wembley as an assistant manager with Barcelona against Arsenal. It was just a Champions League group game but it was a fantastic feeling so I can imagine a Cup Final in the new Wembley.

"We have the FA Cup Final in our minds. We are going to give everything to get there.

"We don’t change cups for the Premiership. The Premiership is the biggest competition in the country. But cup finals are great moments."

With the Carling Cup and Premiership title in the bag. Jose looks forward to adding the FA Cup to his English domestic haul. Last season's FA Cup exploits ended in the 5th Round at Newcastle. This was the game that Bridgey got injured and Carlo was sent off at the very end. This time last season, JM rung the changes in the 3rd round against Scunthorpe and against Huddersfield he is poised to do it again.

There will be no Lampard, Terry - both rested and will probably watch the match from Dubai - (already reported), no Crespo, Gallas, Essien - all injured and lastly no Maniche (Chelsea's new loan signing) although has taken the No.7 shirt is two weeks away from full match fitness.

In come Johnson, Huth, Bridge and Carlton Cole and JM has challenged them to exceed themselves at the highest level.

JM said "It is a game with a lot of responsibility. Lose and you are out of the competition. If I can’t give these players the responsibility of a cup game against Huddersfield, they are here for nothing.

"I trust them and they always give a good contribution when I pick them. If they have the ambition to play regularly for Chelsea, they have to play very seriously against Huddersfield and win the game.

"I am waiting for a difficult game. Huddersfield come with 6,000 supporters and the stadium will be full. One of these matches in Portugal, for instance Porto versus a third division team, I would say with a bit of luck there would be 4000 people in the stadium. Only in England is it possible for the stadium to be already sold out.

"Huddersfield come with a lot of dreams. They have one of the best teams in their division and they are coming to give us a game. They know we are going to play without some of our players that normally play but at the same time, they also know players we have who don’t play so much are still good players."

On the Huddersfield front, nicknamed The Terriers captain Jon Worthington is suspended, Nathan Clarke gets the armband.

Chris Brandon, Mark Hudson and David Mirfin are available after suspensions. Andy Booth is a doubt with a groin injury and the player that I was given the heads-up to watch out for, Tony Carss, who is nicknamed 'Duracell' because he never stops running is definitely out.

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!

40 YEARS A BLUE!