Chelsea face their biggest challenge

Chelsea will need that togetherness now, as they put aside painful thoughts of absent friends and try to stifle the many creative zephyrs blowing their way in Catalonia. From Brazil comes in the fluid form of Ronaldinho, from Portugal the cunning guise of Deco and from France the deft touch and movement of Ludovic Giuly. And then there is the sleek tornado from Africa, Samuel Eto’o.

If Chelsea can withstand these squalls in the Nou Camp, keeping the tie alive for the home leg, it will be tribute to the bonding generated by Mourinho on the summer trip to the US. Fresh from his Champions League triumph with Porto, Mourinho sat down with his new players and talked to successful European campaigners like Makelele and Ferreira and those like Terry and Lampard, who dream of silverware.

Conversation turned to Chelsea’s ambitions for the season. Mourinho recalled the hugely significant moment. ‘‘The message that came very clear is that while Chelsea are full of stars and rich players, only Makelele and those I brought from Porto have won titles’’, Mourinho said. ‘‘The others, zero. When I said that to them, they said, ‘You are right; it’s true’.’’

Mourinho looked at Terry and Lampard. ‘‘If I’m right, why didn’t YOU win anything?’’ He challenged them about their lack of trophies under his predecessor Claudio Ranieri. ‘‘And if I’m right, why don’t you try to follow my concepts?’’

Their pride and desire stirred, Terry and Lampard bought immediately into Mourinho’s grand design. ‘‘I now have an ambitious squad’’, Mourinho said. ‘‘They are crazy to win something important.’’

So when Ronaldinho, Deco and co come calling, Mourinho will expect his ‘‘three team leaders’’ to stand firm. ‘‘Psychologically, the leaders are Terry and Lampard’’, Mourinho explained. ‘‘The leader for the organisation is Makelele.’’

Chelsea have not made so many great strides as a sporting force this season to remain prostrate after tripping up at St James’. The links between Makelele, Terry, Lampard and the rest has been witnessed at Ewood, Goodison and Anfield.

To illustrate to the people of Catalonia the unity in his side, Mourinho recounted an anecdote to the Barcelona sporting daily, El Mundo Deportivo. ‘‘The other day a youth-team player dented Frank Lampard’s Aston Martin in the training-ground car park’’, related Mourinho.

Lampard, a generous soul, knew the boy would struggle to afford a car wash for the Aston Martin, let alone repairing the damage. ‘‘So Frank gave him two options: either he pay for it or he sing and dance for the first team’’, Mourinho continued. ‘‘He came to where we were sitting and gave us a song and dance. That’s the spirit of this club.’’

Such fortitude is also embodied in the earnestness of Joe Cole to prove his worth to Mourinho. Inexplicably, Cole keeps being overlooked in favour of the modest Mateja Kezman.

So Cole has knuckled down, worked hard in training and will relish is chance in the Nou Camp. Chelsea face a serious inquisition on Wednesday but their spirit is not in question.

(The Daily Telegraph)