{"id":3727,"date":"2013-05-16T05:25:35","date_gmt":"2013-05-16T05:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/europa-league-jesus-plots-chelseas-fall\/"},"modified":"2013-05-16T05:25:35","modified_gmt":"2013-05-16T05:25:35","slug":"europa-league-jesus-plots-chelseas-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/europa-league-jesus-plots-chelseas-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"Europa League: Jesus Plots Chelsea\u2019s Fall"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Benfica coach Jorge Jesus is hell bent on ending a European drought which has encompassed six losing finals stretching back to the 1960\u2019s as the Eagles take on Chelsea in tonight\u2019s Europa League final in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

Jesus says Benfica are on revenge mission against Chelsea who beat Benfica 3-1 in the quarter-final en route to winning the trophy.<\/p>\n

\"\u0095GETTING <\/p>\n

\u0095GETTING SET… Chelsea’s English midfielder Frank Lampard (left) and defender David Luiz (centre) with Nigerian John Mikel Obi take part in a training session at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam yesterday ahead of their Europa League final against Benfica. AFP PHOTO<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Benfica manager said: \u201cWe weren\u2019t happy last year, but we hope luck will be with us this time. It\u2019s normal people think they\u2019re the favourites. But a final is a final.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players are very highly motivated to be at their highest level in all aspects \u2013 technique, tactics and emotional balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

This will be his side\u2019s first European final in 23 years.<\/p>\n

Benfica, who won the European Cup twice in the 1960s, have lost their last six finals. Jesus added: \u201cWinning gives you the prestige; This is what we want to create at Benfica.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benfica won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962 but have since finished runners-up in five finals, the last in 1990 when AC Milan beat them in Vienna, as well as the 1983 UEFA Cup final.<\/p>\n

In his fourth season at the helm in Lisbon, Jesus leads a side against Chelsea for the second time after Benfica were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals last season before the London side went on to lift the trophy.<\/p>\n

Chelsea won 1-0 in Lisbon and 2-1 in London thanks to a stoppage time goal by Raul Meireles to wrap up a 3-1 aggregate win over the Portuguese champions. But for the Benfica coach those two matches mean nothing for this year\u2019s final.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be different tomorrow night as Chelsea have a new manager (interim coach Rafael Benitez) who has his team following different ideas about football,\u201d said Jesus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile they now have several different players with better individual quality…that makes them better as they lacked players like that last season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ben\u00edtez is desperate to see Chelsea end a turbulent season on a high by beating Benfica and lifting the Europa League trophy.<\/p>\n

The Blues, who started the campaign aiming for seven different trophies, were parachuted down into Europe\u2019s second tier competition after failing to make their way out of the Champions League group stage in the wake of Roberto Di Matteo\u2019s sacking.<\/p>\n

And Ben\u00edtez says he would be bursting with pride to see his side win the title after battling against a season of \u201cdifficult circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cA European final is massive,\u201d said the Spaniard.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you can score an early goal and change, or concede three and have to change at half-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to have confidence and belief you can do well. Your team has to have the same feeling, and you have to see what happens but it depends on the other team too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the final and I want to win. If we can do it I will be really proud because we worked so hard in difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to give credit to all the people involved, the staff and the players.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Source: PM News<\/p>\n

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