Chelsea to avoid banana skin

Levski Sofia coach Stanimir Stoilov has claimed reigning European champions Barcelona have more flair than Chelsea ahead of the Bulgarians' Champions League clash with the Premiership champions.Stoilov has also described the men from Stamford Bridge as ruthless winners, prompting Blues boss Jose Mourinho to tell reporters: "I think that when Stoilov says we are a team about winning, I get that as a very, very good compliment. I'm happy with that. "The Portuguese's Levski counterpart had said: "Chelsea and Barca are both very strong but Barca plays more attractive football and Chelsea is all about winning. Chelsea is perfect in defence and they don't let other teams create too many chances."They also have magnificent midfielders and forwards and they can score from anywhere and from almost every situation. Of course, Chelsea has its weak sides but I doubt whether we can exploit them."Bulgaria will host a Champions League match for the first time tonight when Mourinho's men take on Levski looking to register their second successive Group A win at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium.The Premiership champions, whom a survey says have the poorest image and reputation of England's top clubs, want to take a 100 per cent record into next month's back-to-back clashes against Barcelona, who visit Werder Bremen.And Mourinho has warned his players not to underestimate Levski, who will be out to claim a Champions League upset, especially after their 5-0 defeat in Barcelona a fortnight ago.The Chelsea manager, who has vowed to play his strongest team in Sofia, added: "If someone offers me a 1-0 win, I will take it and go to London now."Levski don't have the best players in the world like Barcelona, or a player to win the next Golden Ball or players with 50 games in the Champions League - but they have quality."And the first game at home is always a special game. I went with Porto to Partizan Belgrade to play in their first-ever Champions League game and it is always very difficult."It is a very big achievement for Levski to be in the Champions League. It is easy for me to prepare Chelsea to play Liverpool, Barcelona or Manchester United because I know my players are 200 per cent focused. For this kind of match, I have to work a lot more to prepare them well."Meanwhile, Liverpool will be hoping to build on their hat-trick of Premiership victories since drawing their Group C opener at PSV Eindhoven a fortnight ago when Galatasary visit Anfield tonight.Rafael Benitez's men have won all their home matches to date this season and Luis Garcia, who has become something of an European talisman for the Merseysiders, believes that the Reds must seek to maintain that record in European club football's premier competition.Liverpool have only lost three of their last 31 games at Anfield and garcia told reporters: "We have a 100 per cent home record this season, but that happens when we do things right."It's funny, people were writing us off recently when we lost two away games at Chelsea and Everton. They were hard, but we only thought about the future and being secure at home. It is the only way to handle such situations."We have picked ourselves up, and we are trying to be as consistent as we were last season and now I feel the team is showing what we can do."We know we need to win trophies, the title, in Europe, domestic cups, and the only way to do that is to concentrate on each game and target a win."Despite Liverpool's upturn in form in recent weeks and their impressive home record, Garcia and his team-mates are refusing to take anything for granted against Galatasaray.The Spaniard added: "Galatasaray will be difficult. We expect them to sit deep, to wait for us to come forward and then hit us on the counter attack."They will be tough, they may not get many chances but they can make the most of them. It is difficult to play against sides who sit back when you can see so many people in front of you all trying to destroy what you want to do."But we know that we must win all our home games to go through, and that means starting against Galatasaray."

ITN | September 27, 2006

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