Mourinho in a mood to play games

But it was his time under Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at the Nou Camp that taught him about the pressures of life among the football elite of Europe.

"Winning titles at Barcelona was life or death," Mourinho said. "For precisely that reason it was a good experience for me. It's a fantastic, emotional feeling for me to be back. I learned a lot working in a group that knew finishing second was failure.

"Porto won the Champions League in my third year in charge and I'm now seven months into a four year contract with Chelsea. My objective with Chelsea is to win silverware in the next four years.

"That is important for the development of the club. If the club feel I'm the right man to stay in charge I'd be very happy to stay.

"I understand football and I understand that my time to go will come. But after just seven months I'm so happy to be with Chelsea that I cannot see that day arriving."

Mourinho remains bullishly - some might say recklessly optimistic - despite the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Newcastle that ended Chelsea's bid for an historic quadruple of major trophies.

That was only Mourinho's third defeat in 41 games but it came in what is quite possibly the most critical week of this or any other season in the club's 100-year history.

A week ago they were potential record-breakers inching their way into the history books. But now they recognise that another defeat in the Nou Camp tonight might cast serious doubt on their ability to overcome Liverpool in Sunday's Carling Cup Final in Cardiff, the first chance they have to secure a trophy this season.

Mourinho insisted: "We can't dwell on what has gone. We have to concentrate on the future. We have been here three days. We've prepared properly."

Those close to Mourinho had little doubt that his intends to field the side he named with William Gallas filling in for the injured Wayne Bridge at left back, Ricardo Carvalho playing in the middle of the defence, Joe Cole playing wide on the left with Didier Drogba back to lead the attack having recovered from a thigh strain.

The loss of the two flank players Arjen Robben and Damien Duff strips Chelsea of much of their attacking impetus so, in the circumstances, Mourinho's priority will be a game plan that restricts the Spanish League leaders who have won 18 and drawn six of their 25 European ties against English visitors.

In this respect, Gallas has a vital role to play shadowing his French countryman Ludovic Giuly, who played for Monaco last season when they eliminated Chelsea in the semifinal.

Giuly may be only 5ft 5in but he has pace and he's sharp with the ball at his feet. Along with Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, he will stretch and test Chelsea's re-shaped back four. The clash between Cameroon international Eto'o, the top scorer in Spain this season, and the Premiership's top centre-back John Terry should make an interesting sub-plot to a game that could be a classic confrontation between the runaway League leaders of England and Spain.

"I think Chelsea are the best team in Europe right now," said former manager Claudio Ranieri. "Barcelona are fantastic when they have the ball but not so strong or compact. They can leave a lot of space - and Chelsea are amazing when they counter attack. I expect two terrific matches."

More than 30 TV stations are covering what is generally regarded as the Champions League match of the season, though the quality among this season's 16 surviving clubs is astonishing.

Will Mourinho's Chelsea eventually earn a coveted place among the European elite?

"To win the Champions League I think English teams need to play differently - not so much with heart but with brains," said Mourinho. "They must adapt."

Chelsea, under Mourinho, are adapting and success against the great Catalan club would reinforce the belief that they are now good enough to win the Champions League for the first time.