Babayaro ... Which Side This Time?

Last updated : 18 November 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

And it will be interesting to see what sort of reaction he gets from the Blues fans when he makes his first return to Chelsea on Saturday.

Babayaro: "A game against Newcastle United is always a pressure one for anybody, but after the start they have had to the season I do not think there is any additional pressure on Chelsea this weekend.

"I played alongside some great players at Stamford Bridge until I left for Newcastle in January, and the current squad is unbelievable in terms of quality. I suppose this is one of the reasons why I left.

"Jose Mourinho made it clear that I could stay and that he wanted me to stay. I could have stayed and picked up a few winners' medals, but I would have been on the bench for a lot of the games and I wanted to be playing every week.

"The approach from Newcastle was a great opportunity to play for a fantastic club and I am grateful to Jose and Peter Kenyon for not standing in my way after Graeme Souness and Freddy Shepherd made it clear that they wanted me.

"Now when I go back on Saturday I hope the crowd will appreciate all that I did when I was at Chelsea, and I hope I will get a good reception from the fans because they are sporting.

"Jose Mourinho is a great manager and good for the game. I think he sometimes gets an unfair Press in that sometimes the comments that he makes, which are clearly meant to be tongue in cheek, are taken too seriously."