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Sunday, 15 April 2007, 18:22 GMT 19:22 UK

Mourinho relishing Man Utd test

Jose Mourinho Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says this year's FA Cup final will be between the "best two teams in England" after his side beat Blackburn in the semi-finals.

The Blues' extra-time 2-1 win ensured their place in the showpiece against Manchester United and he said: "This will be a big, big final, no question.

"Both teams have been unbelievable - it will be like a dream for me."

And Mourinho also paid tribute to match-winner Michael Ballack, saying: "He's been brilliant, a real winner."

Ballack fired home the crucial goal in the second half of injury time after Jason Roberts had cancelled out Frank Lampard's opener.

" We are still on for the Quadruple and we must enjoy that"
Jose Mourinho

And Mourinho added: "Michael Ballack has been a top professional since day one. He fights for the team in an unbelievable way and is doing a very good job for us."

The Chelsea boss also reserved special praise for Blackburn, saying: "I thought that Blackburn were amazing.

"They fought like heroes and all of them - the manager, the crowd, the players - deserve all my respect because they were amazing and gave us a really good game.

"We put in some huge performances and made an outstanding team look ordinary"
Mark Hughes

"It is sad because one team has to lose but they must be proud of themselves.

"My team must be proud also. We are still on for the Quadruple and we must enjoy that. We could win all four, or we could lose the next three, but we live in the moment and are happy."

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes said he thought his team were just "four or five minutes" away from snatching a dramatic win at Old Trafford.

"We were exceptional today, especially in the second half, and extra time probably came at the wrong time for us," said the Welshman.

606: DEBATE
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Red Rose

"I felt if there had been four or five more minutes of normal time we would have won it and, with that in mind, it's hard to stomach when you come away with nothing.

"We'll take credit for the way we played today, of course. We put in some huge performances and made an outstanding team look ordinary.

"We might look to one or two missed chances - Morten Gamst Pedersen's header late on maybe - as well but it barely softens the blow of losing."



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Related to this story:

Blackburn 1-2 Chelsea (aet) (15 Apr 07 |  FA Cup )
Sunday's football photos (15 Apr 07 |  Football )
FA Cup clockwatch (15 Apr 07 |  FA Cup )
Watford 1-4 Man Utd (14 Apr 07 |  FA Cup )

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