Chelsea star Willian has been backed to break the record for the most number of goals from free kicks in a single Champions League season by the man who set it, Juninho Pernambucano.
Willian matched the former Lyon midfielder's feat of scoring four goals from set pieces during one Champions League campaign in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in midweek, which took his goal tally for the season to six in all competitions - all from direct free kicks.
Juninho achieved his record while playing for Les Gones during the 2005-06 season, and the ex-Vasco da Gama midfielder has now admitted he is pleased to see his compatriot on the cusp of bypassing his feat with the Blues.
"It's good it's a Brazilian, and from this new generation of good players we have," Juninho told Globo Esporte.
"It is very gratifying for me because when I scored these four goals, no one said anything.
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"I'm being remembered by what Willian has achieved, and I think he has everything to beat the record.
"The Champions League has barely reached half way and Chelsea still have a few more games to play."
Willian could break Juninho's free-kick record in Europe's elite competition when Chelsea play their final group stage match against Porto at Stamford Bridge on 9 December.
Jose Mourinho's side only need a draw to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League, although a win over the Portuguese team could see Chelsea top their group.
