Jose Mourinho is hopeful Chelsea can mount a challenge in Europe despite their poor league form
But together, Mourinho believes that Chelsea and him can this year do it again, just like he did with Porto in 2004 and with Inter Milan in 2010 - and just like the Stamford Bridge club did without him, but with a team that he largely built, on that famous night in Munich in 2012.
This year there are many teams in better form both in Europe and domestically than Chelsea - among them Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain, and Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho has already long written off any chance of retaining the Premier League title after Chelsea's wretched start to the season this term.
"We have been able to use the Champions League this season to get some positive results and performances.
"We have obviously put ourselves in a very difficult position in the Premier League. If you have to recover 10 or 12 points from one team, it's possible. But the distance is to two, three or four teams. But if a bad season is to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League, we have to fight for it."
Mourinho is likely to field a strong team tonight, because the Champions League and the FA Cup are Chelsea's only remaining chances of silverware this season.
But a major boost for the Chelsea manager has been Belgian star Eden Hazard's return to form. Like too many players, Hazard has had a poor opening to the season but a switch to a central position behind front man Diego Costa appears to have triggered a resurgence.
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Jose Mourinho has been boosted by the return to form of Eden Hazard
Mourinho, though, is adamant that Hazard's best position is still out on the flanks, where he was instrumental in their title win last year and was Footballer of the Year.
He said: "Where Eden plays depends on the game, on the opposition. His best position is where last season he was the player of the year. "He can also do the No 10 position. But playing wide he can attack defenders in an individual way. As a No 10 sometimes he is surrounded."
Mourinho is expected to recall defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill tonight against a side they comfortably beat 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in September, and midfielder Ramires could also start.
The Portuguese last night dismissed claims that young players do not get a fair crack of the whip at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "We have seven players under 21 in the first team squad, and they have made 26 starts - which is a lot."
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