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https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/04/06/
kovacic--tomorrow-is-a-big-day-for-us

Kovacic: Tomorrow is a big day for us

06 Apr 2021


Mateo Kovacic says the Blues players are prepared and proud to represent
Chelsea in a big game full of big players when we take on Porto in the
first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.


https://i.imgur.com/gUGK1iF.jpg


We meet the Portuguese champions in Seville tomorrow evening and they have
already shown this season how strong an opponent they can be, having not
lost a league game since October and eliminated Juventus in extra time in
the last round of the Champions League.


That means Kovacic and his Blues team-mates are well aware of the task
that faces them over two legs in Spain if we are to make the last four in
the competition, with the Croatian international highlighting Porto's
team spirit and determination as two of the assets which make them a
formidable opponent.


'It was a difficult draw,' he said. 'Porto is a good team which we saw
already against Juventus. They knocked out a big opponent, they showed
togetherness and a great spirit. They fight together, they stick together
and so it will be a tough game for us, like every game in the Champions
League, but we are prepared for it.


'When I played before at Real Madrid I learned that in this stage there
are no bad opponents. This is a tough draw, Porto is an amazing team and
they knocked out Juventus, a big opponent, and they showed a great
character and a great team spirit. We need to show that as well and try
our best to go through but it won't be easy.


https://i.imgur.com/VQBdV6L.jpg


'They can play against any team, but we are a good team as well and we
prepared ourselves very well for the game and we will show that. Tomorrow
is a big day for us and I'm sure that the whole team is focused on that.'


During his three years at Real Madrid, during which he won the Champions
League three times, the Blues midfielder was also a team-mate of current
Porto captain Pepe. The defender has a reputation as a fierce competitor,
but Kovacic has no concerns about how our strikers will handle the
challenge of going up against the Portuguese veteran.


'First of all, I know Pepe as an amazing guy, a lovely person and an
amazing team-mate,' said Kovacic. 'I appreciate when I had the time with
him at Real Madrid he was amazing with me, so I love him as a guy and as a
player he is amazing.


https://i.imgur.com/i0o6iwO.jpg
Kovacic and Pepe compete with a smile on their faces as team-mates in Spain


'We know what Pepe can bring to his team, a lot of experience and he is a
fighter, so he brings a good spirit to the team. But I don't need to worry
because our strikers are used to playing against tough opponents. In the
Premier League every centre-back is quite hard and difficult, so it will
be another game full of big players and we will be prepared for that.'


However, despite lifting the Champions League trophy three times in the
past, Kovacic never started a final in the competition during his time in
Madrid. While he admits that is something he would love to set right with
a Chelsea side he believes has the potential to succeed in Europe, it is
important not to look too far ahead and just focus on the next game.


'It would be nice to play a final with Chelsea, it would be amazing, but
we are in the quarters now, we should take it step by step. We have
tomorrow a big opponent, which is Porto.


'I think this Chelsea team can go very far and we are more and more
confident in ourselves in every game. We have a great mixture between
young talents and experienced players. So we are ready for every opponent
and every challenge which will come. Tomorrow is a big game and all
players like to play big games, so we will be prepared and proud to play a
big game for Chelsea.'

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