Mourinho confident of landing knockout blow

<i>Internazionale</i> manager in bullish mood for return leg after Chelsea are beaten 2-1 in Milan and lose Cech to injury

Jose Mourinho predicted his Internazionale side will knock Chelsea out of the Champions League following their 2-1 victory in the Champions League last-16 first leg last night because Stamford Bridge is a "lucky" ground for him.

Mourinho, who won five trophies in three seasons as Chelsea manager, admitted it will be an emotional night when he returns to Stamford Bridge in three weeks' time. But the "Special One" also claimed he is confident his Internazionale will go through on the ground where he lost only one game, to Barcelona, in his three and a bit years in west London.

Mourinho said: "I will have to control my emotions. At Stamford Bridge I expect people to be pleased to see me because we were so happy when we were together. I believe we can do very well and go through. We showed that we can be a very big team in the Champions League.

"I have to control my emotions and be professional like Chelsea players were today. In the tunnel it was not a normal game for me or them but after that it was a normal game. This time I go back to a different dressing room and dugout and they know that normally Mourinho is lucky at Stamford Bridge."

Chelsea's defeat was compounded when goalkeeper Petr Cech was carried off with a torn calf muscle. He will undergo further tests today in London, but could be out of action for more than a month. Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, said: "Cech had an injury on his calf. We have to control his condition over the next few days. And we will see when he can return to the squad."

The injury came when Cech jumped to make a simple catch from a cross. He seemed to twist his right knee as he landed and immediately signalled for medical help. The Czech international was given a rousing reception by the 78,971 fans at San Siro as he was taken off.

Chelsea had 18 efforts on goal compared to Inter's eight, and 56 per cent of the possession, but their attacking verve did not receive the reward it deserved. Goals from two Argentines, Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso, gave Mourinho a memorable victory. However, Chelsea's away goal, scored early in the second half by Salomon Kalou, gives Ancelotti hope they can overturn the deficit in the second leg.

"We played a good game with personality and courage and we have to do the same in the next game," the Chelsea manager said.

Didier Drogba also hit the bar with a superb free-kick, and Kalou should have been awarded a penalty when was tripped from behind by the Internazionale defender Walter Samuel, who admitted afterwards that it was a penalty. Ancelotti said: "I think it was a penalty, but it is only a penalty when the referee blows the whistle."

Frank Lampard, the Chelsea midfielder, felt his side had been hard done by the referee. "Salomon thought it was a penalty and it would have been a red card but you have to take these things on the chin. Maybe in the home leg we'll get something going for us," he said.

* A Premier League winner's medal thrown into the crowd in 2006 by Mourinho fetched £16,800 at auction in Chester yesterday.

Last night's Champions League results

CSKA Moscow 1-1 Seville

Internazionale 2-1 Chelsea