Triumphant Mourinho still moans
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2010, Thursday
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INTER Milan coach Jose Mourinho still found reasons to moan despite being on the verge of yet another extraordinary triumph after his side flattened Barcelona 3-1 in its Champions League semifinal, first leg on Tuesday.
Barcelona's Spain midfielder Xavi complained about the referee at fulltime and was involved in a San Siro tunnel spat with Mourinho, who inferred the holders were bad losers and again slammed his own player Mario Balotelli for a lack of dedication.
"It's always difficult to lose for those who aren't used to losing. I'm like that too. It's the characteristic of a team which always wins," a bristling Mourinho told a news conference when asked what had happened in the tunnel.
"I can never have a problem with Xavi because I adore him. He's one of best in the world."
The Portuguese coach, whose side has slipped up domestically as it seeks a fifth straight Serie A title, was proud of his players but could not believe 19-year-old substitute Balotelli produced another lackluster performance.
"We were in the second most important match in club football where everyone goes off (the pitch) dead and one could have done something more to help the team," Mourinho said after weeks of tension between the pair since Balotelli was pictured in an AC Milan shirt.
Barcelona lost by a two-goal margin for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola as strikes from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito, after Pedro had given the Catalans the lead, set up a fascinating second leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was booked and will miss the return along with Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic.
Guardiola was gracious in defeat and had only one complaint about the sticky San Siro pitch, saying the Nou Camp would be watered for the second leg.
"The pitch was not the one we wanted. At home we can choose, we have attackers who are very quick," said the dapper coach, whose side had to spend 14 hours on a bus to reach Milan because of flight restrictions caused by an erupting Icelandic volcano.
"I'm not a doctor so I can't say how much the journey affected us," he added.
World player of the year Lionel Messi, who scored four goals in the last round against Arsenal, was almost completely nullified by Javier Zanetti's constant harrying and Inter's ability to break so quickly that the ball was often behind him.
Barcelona's Spain midfielder Xavi complained about the referee at fulltime and was involved in a San Siro tunnel spat with Mourinho, who inferred the holders were bad losers and again slammed his own player Mario Balotelli for a lack of dedication.
"It's always difficult to lose for those who aren't used to losing. I'm like that too. It's the characteristic of a team which always wins," a bristling Mourinho told a news conference when asked what had happened in the tunnel.
"I can never have a problem with Xavi because I adore him. He's one of best in the world."
The Portuguese coach, whose side has slipped up domestically as it seeks a fifth straight Serie A title, was proud of his players but could not believe 19-year-old substitute Balotelli produced another lackluster performance.
"We were in the second most important match in club football where everyone goes off (the pitch) dead and one could have done something more to help the team," Mourinho said after weeks of tension between the pair since Balotelli was pictured in an AC Milan shirt.
Barcelona lost by a two-goal margin for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola as strikes from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito, after Pedro had given the Catalans the lead, set up a fascinating second leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was booked and will miss the return along with Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic.
Guardiola was gracious in defeat and had only one complaint about the sticky San Siro pitch, saying the Nou Camp would be watered for the second leg.
"The pitch was not the one we wanted. At home we can choose, we have attackers who are very quick," said the dapper coach, whose side had to spend 14 hours on a bus to reach Milan because of flight restrictions caused by an erupting Icelandic volcano.
"I'm not a doctor so I can't say how much the journey affected us," he added.
World player of the year Lionel Messi, who scored four goals in the last round against Arsenal, was almost completely nullified by Javier Zanetti's constant harrying and Inter's ability to break so quickly that the ball was often behind him.
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