Mateo Kovacic has rubbished the “strange” claim that Chelsea players celebrated drawing Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Portuguese club are widely regarded as the least formidable team left in the competition despite triumphing over Juventus to book their spot in the last eight.
Club captain Pepe insisted he heard tales of Stamford Bridge stars celebrating as though they already have one foot in the semi-finals, telling TNT Sports : “It was public that Chelsea players celebrated the draw.”
But his former Real Madrid teammate Kovacic has dismissed these suggestions, insisting Porto are an “amazing team” and that Chelsea have their work cut out in Wednesday’s first leg.
“No, [it’s] strange to hear that from Pepe because I played with him for three years,” said Kovacic of Pepe’s claims.
“So I don’t know what he means or if he actually said it. But of course not.
“Me, I didn’t celebrate because when I played before with Real Madrid I know that in these stages there are no lucky opponents or bad opponents. This is a tough draw.
(Image: Andrew Redington)
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“Porto is an amazing team, which we saw against Juventus and they knocked out them so it is a big opponent out.
“They showed a great character, a great team spirit and we need to show that as well tomorrow. And we need to try our best to go through them, but it will not be easy.”
Kovacic also laughed off suggestions Chelsea should be confident of progressing due to having a far more expensive squad than Porto.
He added: “That will not give you advantage [on the pitch]. For sure not. The advantage we need to have is on the pitch because Porto is a tough, tough opponent.
“We saw against Juventus. They can play against any team, but we are as well a good team and we have prepared ourselves very well for that game and I am sure we will show that tomorrow.
“It depend on the pitch, it is nothing to do with budget. It is all about the pitch.”
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