Deschamps hoping for a happy return

14 April 2012

(5-5 aggregate, Monaco win on away goals)

Didier Deschamps may not have enjoyed his dark days at Chelsea as a player but the rookie manager cannot wait to take his Monaco team there in the Champions League.

He will get the chance in a two-legged semi-final thanks to a shock comeback against Real Madrid last night. Monaco lost the first leg in Spain 4-2 and went 1-0 down at the Louis II Stadium but fought back in front of a full house to get through on away goals.

Little surprise Deschamps is confident of coming away from Stamford Bridge with happier memories than those of his time there as a player.

The former France captain put up with life at Chelsea for only one difficult year after joining from Juventus in 1999.

He unexpectedly became a bit-part player under his old friend and manager Gianluca Vialli and left acrimoniously with their relationship shattered.

Deschamps famously complained the problem with England was that it was dark when he dropped his young son off at school in the morning and dark when he picked him up in the afternoon.

But if it became the country where he earned a place in the final of Europe's premier club tournament in only his third season of management, the 35-yearold would probably see it in a different light.

He said: "There is no reason to be afraid of going to Chelsea. It will be special to go back to Stamford Bridge and see a few old friends. People like Marcel Desailly are still around and I am already looking forward to it.

"Everyone thought it would be Arsenal against Real and Chelsea have caused an upset too. But while I respect them, we have no reason to fear them.

"Our victory made history for football in Monaco but now we have to make sure that we come away with something at the end of the season." Deschamps' determination was shared by his players last night as they overcame a complacent Real side who clearly missed the suspended David Beckham.

Raul finished off a lightning attack with a curling shot to put the Spanish side ahead in the 36th minute.

But Monaco equalised through Ludovic Giuly in first half injurytime and Fernando Morientes, on loan from Real, headed Deschamps' team in front after the break. Giuly's neat 66th-minute goal deservedly wrapped things up and the result must leave Real coach Carlos Queiroz, who blamed below-par attacking play, under serious pressure.

Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen admitted his teammates were as surprised as anyone by the result. "We were shouting to each other 'we're going to Madrid' because we thought we would be playing Real.

"But Monaco won and while many people may not have heard of their players, I have. Football is my life and I watch it all the time."

MORE ABOUT

AS Monaco

Deschamps hoping for a happy return

Read More