FA Cup: Chelsea bid to KO Spurs

Updated 16.57 Sat Mar 10 2007

Keywords: Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Premiership, Martin Jol, Jose Mourinho, Tottenham, Chelsea, FA Cup, football, sport, Plymouth Argyle, Watford

Jose Mourinho has admitted that it will be difficult for his men to win the quadruple ahead of Chelsea's clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the sixth round of the FA Cup.

The Blues, who lifted the Carling Cup last month, are in the last eight of the Champions League and find themselves nine points behind Manchester United in the Premiership with a game in hand.

"We are in a good position but it will be difficult because we are not in a position to rotate players" - Jose Mourinho

And while Mourinho has admitted that it will be "very difficult" for his men to land all four trophies, he does believe such a feat "is not impossible".

The Portuguese, who will be guided by medical staff before deciding whether captain John Terry is fit to line up against Spurs at Stamford Bridge, said: "No other team in the Champions League, if you go team by team, nobody can win all the trophies in their country, except Chelsea.

"We are in a good position but it will be difficult because we are not in a position to rotate players. The only place where it is easy to rotate is at left-back with Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge, after that we cannot rotate."

Tottenham are chasing their second victory over Chelsea this season having beaten them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in the Premiership in November and are on a high having won each of their last five matches.

But striker Robbie Keane is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing Martin Jol's men at Stamford Bridge: "We are not kidding ourselves, we know it is going to be difficult, but with the way we are playing we will go in with confidence high and will hopefully get a good result.

"Not many people expect us to win so we have got nothing to lose in some ways, but just look at the tradition of the FA Cup. Surprises do happen and hopefully that will be the case on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Stuart Pearce is targeting a place in the semi-finals when Manchester City, looking for a lift after a run of four successive defeats saw them slump to 17th in the Premiership, visit Blackburn Rovers.

Pearce has been forced to field a considerable amount of criticism as the club have tumbled down the table but he believes the FA Cup could help turn things around.

He said: "I have a squad of players desperate to put things right. Everyone is keen to get started, so that gives me options. We know it is going to be tough between now and the end of the season.

"But we are probably only a couple of victories away from mid-table and could be about to clinch a semi-final place in the FA Cup."

And Plymouth Argyle, the only non-Premiership side still left in the Cup, are champing at the bit as they bid to knock out Premiership strugglers Watford at Home Park.

Boss Ian Holloway, who is 44 on Monday, believes his Pilgrims can deliver him an early birthday present and gain revenge for their semi-final defeat at the hands of the Hornets in 1984.

He said: "I feel as though this has been heaven-sent. I have never had a cup run as a manager and now we are in the quarter-finals at home to Watford, it's a dream come true.

"We know that Watford are going to be hard to beat and that we are going to have to be at the absolute top notch of our game for the whole 90 minutes but if we can do that, who knows. You've got to dream haven't you and the semi-final is just so close now."