LONDON — Gary Cahill has urged Chelsea to draw on the memory of last season’s Champions League football success when they face Swansea in the second leg of their English League Cup semi-final today.
Report by Reuters
Rafael Benitez’s side travel to the Liberty Stadium trailing 2-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge and face a daunting challenge if they are to clinch a place in the Wembley final. They will head to south Wales, however, lifted by the 2-1 weekend win over Arsenal that centre-back Cahill claims has revived the club’s Premier League title ambitions.
The England international believes their performances in last season’s European campaign, which included a penalty shoot-out win in the final against Bayern Munich in a match played on the German club’s own ground, proved they are capable of defying the odds when silverware is at stake.
“It’s not beyond us,” Cahill said. “We have done it before in the Champions League. It’s going to be tough because it’s a hard place to go.
“The key is getting the first goal, if we get it then it will be a nervous night for them. That’s what we’re aiming to do.”
Chelsea’s away form under interim manager Benitez has been formidable and they will confront Michael Laudrup’s side on the back of six successive domestic victories on their travels. And Cahill is confident they can now embark on a run that will take them closer to the Premier League top two — Manchester United and Manchester City as well as inspire success in the cup competitions.
The defender said: “Yes we are looking at the Manchester clubs. It has been frustrating because there have been many times this season where we have nearly got ourselves back involved and then let it slip.
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“But we are more than capable of putting a run together and winning nine out of 10 games. That’s what we need to aim for and see where it takes us. We have got to make sure we are in one of the spots for the Champions League. We also have the cup competitions and we want to go as far as we possibly can in them.”
But Cahill warned fatigue could count against the Blues.
“At the minute it’s impossible to feel 100% fresh. It is difficult but we can’t use it as an excuse.”
