Cautious coaches await Anfield showdown

LONDON, Apr 26 (Reuters) Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said 1-0 was a positive result to take to Liverpool next week despite frustration that his side could not score more goals in their Champions League semi-final first leg.

A first-half strike from Joe Cole separated the teams, meeting for the third season in a row in Europe's top club competition yesterday. Chelsea dominated the first 45 minutes but Liverpool came back into the match in the second half.

''I'm very happy with the players. It's a positive result.

It's a victory so that when the game starts in Anfield, Chelsea will be ahead 1-0,'' Mourinho said.

''I am frustrated... For what we did in the first half we did more than enough to score two, three or four goals,'' he said.

''For sure (Rafael) Benitez and his people will think it's a result that will give them the chance to be in the final but me and my people think it's also a result for us to be there.'' Mourinho and Benitez agreed the Anfield crowd would make a difference but the Liverpool manager would not be drawn on which side had the advantage.

''We play in Anfield with our supporters behind us but at the same time they are a very good in counter-attack and we must be aware of this,'' the cautious Spaniard said.

Mourinho, whose side lost at the same stage of the competition to a lone goal at Anfield two years ago said Liverpool, with five European Cups had an historical advantage of success in Europe over many decades.

''They play at home and they are a strong side at home,'' he said.

Mourinho struck one note of discord over an apparent second half handball that was not given by German refereee Markus Merk against Alvaro Arbeloa.

''There's no doubt it was a handball but if it was inside or outside the box I cannot tell,'' he said.

But in conciliatory mood the usually controversial Portuguese added that Merk, who produced only one yellow card, had otherwise had a good game.

REUTERS TB BST0533