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Geremi - Blues seeking revenge

Image: Geremi: Backing former side

Former Chelsea midfielder Geremi insists that Avram Grant's side are desperate for European revenge.

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Former Chelsea utility player Geremi insists that Avram Grant's side are desperate for European revenge. The Cameroon international left the Blues to join Newcastle last summer, but has first-hand experience of UEFA Champions League heartache. During his four years at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fell at the semi-final stage of the competition on three occasions. Two of those defeats came against Liverpool, and the Reds stand in the way of the Blues once again this season. Rafa Benitez takes his troops to West London for the second leg of their last four contest on Wednesday night, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 from the first encounter.

Special

Geremi has been in contact with some of his former team-mates ahead of the game and insists that the Chelsea squad are keen to banish the memories of their previous failures. "I think it is something special for them," he told Sky Sports News. "I have been talking to some of the lads from Chelsea and because two years consecutively they have been knocked out by Liverpool, and also a third year Chelsea were knocked out in the semi-finals by Monaco, I think they are desperate to play in the final."
Advantage
The Magpies man also feels that Chelsea are now firm favourites to progress to the final in Moscow after they were handed a crucial away goal at Anfield last Tuesday. "I think it means a lot, especially at this stage," he said. "Scoring an away goal makes a big difference and Chelsea play the second leg at home which is a big advantage because Chelsea have a good record at home. "They know that they just have to draw and they are through to the final."
Memory
Geremi also reflected on his own personal experience of semi-final defeat at the hands of Liverpool. He missed one of the spot kicks during last season's dramatic penalty shootout, and admits that the memories still haunt him. "I still have it in my memory coming from the bench, because I was one of the good penalty takers I came on, and I missed a penalty," he said. "It is a bad memory."

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