English League Cup semi-final: Chelsea manager Mourinho was happier to look forward to success on four fronts but he too had a word of caution for those expecting a a clean sweep of silverware.

"We can win four, we can lose four, we can win one or two," he said. "To win the four is very, very difficult but it is still possible. There is a long way to do it but if you could give the Premiership would be very happy."

Mourinho, who celebrated his 42nd birthday yesterday, said: "If you can finish your day with such an important victory it is the perfect day.

"The plan was just to win the game and be in the final but we knew, with the opponent and the atmosphere, that a semi-final is always difficult and we were ready for anything." The former Porto boss claimed the way his side performed would show their Premiership rivals who are waiting for the Stamford Bridge club to slip up that it will not be easy to catch them.

"It was important for us, not because we got into a final, but also the way we played, the mentality, the strength we showed here was a message we sent to the Premiership," he said.

"It is still difficult, we still have to win 11 matches to be champions but we have left a message here that we are really strong and the boys are magnificent.

"I was ready to lose the game and leave Old Trafford with a smile just to pass a message of confidence.

"But my team would never lose their confidence or mentality just because of a defeat here." Sir Alex Ferguson lost his 18-year record of never losing a semi-final but he was more displeased about the defending for Duff's winning goal - an inswinging free-kick from long range.

"You would think it would happen some time but this is the lesser of the tournaments you would want to get knocked out of," he said.

"We're not happy about the free-kick from 50 yards out - you can't expect to win losing goals like that.

"We played exceptionally well in the second half. It was a great game, you couldn't divide the teams today.

"They are a threat on the counter-attack but we coped with that quite well and I thought we had the far bigger momentum in the second half.

"Their goalkeeper made a fantastic save from Ronaldo and we had one cleared off the line.

Chelsea goalscorer Frank Lampard said the players were trying to keep their feet on the ground despite moving a step closer to their first trophy under Jose Mourinho last night.

The England international midfielder and Damien Duff scored either side of Ryan Giggs' equaliser to put the London side into the Millennium Stadium final next month.

It means Chelsea are still in with a chance of winning an unprecedented four major trophies this season but Lampard was reluctant to get too over-excited.

"We haven't won anything yet but we are going the right way about it. Everyone is together and going in the same direction," he said after the game.

"It will give us a confidence boost and we will go after the others."

Club and country team-mate John Terry agreed, saying: "None of us have won anything and hopefully this is our year and we can start with this cup and build on it.

"We are taking each competition as it comes and so we'll concentrate on the FA Cup (against Birmingham) on Sunday but it means an awful lot to the lads - this is the first trophy (to be won) in the season. We are here to win it."