19.04.2010 18:27
“We’re much better now than in November"
Vanessa Forns
Speaking at the UEFA press conference in Milan on Monday afternoon, Inter manager José Mourinho insisted that his team was “much better” than when they met Barca in the group stage in November.
"Barca were far superior. They won deservedly and we weren’t able to respond to their
superiority. It was November. Barca are still as good as they were then. We on the other hand are
much better than we were”.
“My team has improved tactically and is more compact. They’ve grown and the
mentality in the Champions League is different. Our psychological state is different after the
results we have obtained”.
A 50/50 tie
Mourinho admitted that Barca are generally seen as favourites to go through to the final.
However, he believes the tie is 50/50.
"It’s not an advanced final"
José
Mourinho doesn’t view the semi-final tie as “an advanced final” although he does
feel a tremendous responsibility as the match will be shown around the world. As for playing the
second leg in the Camp Nou, he told reporters: ”Playing the second leg in the Camp Nou is
more difficult but not decisive”.
However, the Portuguese coach declined to name Guardiola’s line-up in advance, as he
has done on many other occasions. He joked: “Guardiola has many alternatives in every
position and he hasn’t called me to let me have his line-up in advance”.
No man to man marking for Messi
Mourinho revealed that he has no plans to man to man mark Lionel Messi: “We know that
he’s an extremely important player but I’m ruling out individual marking. This
isn’t basketball, it’s football and I understand as a game of eleven versus
eleven”.
Finally, Mourinho agreed that Barca would still be the best team in the world, “if
they’re capable of winning the Champions League again”.