Inter Milan v Chelsea Preview and Quotes (Pt 2)
By dixon9
February 24 2010
Mourinho: “Chelsea have suffered in the last two years, and it's no coincidence that their decline happened after I left. “We had a unique relationship as a manager, players and fans, and when you break that, it's not easy to fix. Maybe they tried to change too much of what we put in place. “Maybe they would've been better off sticking with me than changing manager when they did.”
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Mourinho:
“The last time I was there (Stamford Bridge) I was watching all the details with attention. Even the warm-up is the warm-up they did in our time. The way they defend set pieces is exactly the same.
"The position they have on set pieces is exactly the same. Sometimes they play a 4-4-2 diamond; sometimes they play 4-3-3, which are exactly the systems we worked when there."
“I think you forget that I left Chelsea and not the other way around."
Of course, we didn't agree on anything, but I still have respect for him (Abramovich). He is a clever businessman and has done really well but I think he has made some grave mistakes in his time at Chelsea and especially after I left.
“I think that he sometimes thinks too much with his heart and helps people in football that he likes instead of thinking about getting the best for the job.
“I don't think that Chelsea chose the right managers after I left and I think they have learned from their mistakes. It hurts me to see that Manchester United have regained the throne in the Premier League because they chased Chelsea when I was there.'Ancelotti has the right mentality for Chelsea and I'm quite sure that they will win the Premier League this season.Samuel:
"Marking a centre-forward like Drogba is difficult - but if we remain tight to him he will always have problems receiving the ball. We'll have to do this kind of limited work but that's the best route to victory."
"We need to concentrate for 180 minutes of the tie and not become distracted because we're talking about a team that at any time can win a game with its individuals, especially in attack.
Eto’o:
“The boss is relaxed and it’s normal that he wants us to show Chelsea our best. You can be sure that every secret of their defensive line has been explained to us."
“I think it will be a very tactical match that will take the whole 180 minutes over both legs to decide. It’s necessary to play and prepare as calmly as we can. Anxiety is negative because this is the time to be strong. But I have yet to see Mourinho nervous!”
“This is not a duel between Drogba and Eto’o because we have fought each other many times in the last few years and demonstrated our level. But this week Inter need to stop Didi to avoid many problems in our area. That is the key for us and it is not easy."
“And John Terry is a good defender. I have fought against him many times during my time at Barca.”
“I don’t deny that Chelsea have a chance to reach the final this season. But I am always optimistic and I believe Inter have a serious chance of beating them.”
Mourinho:
"When I look at that team only Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka are not players from my time. All the other boys: Petr Cech, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Mikel, Drogba, Malouda, Joe Cole, Kalou; all of them are boys from my time."
"So it's a team without secrets for me. But at the same time I think I'm a coach without secrets for them. It will be easy for me, but I think also easy for them. I know them, but they know me. I know the way they play, the way they think, but at the same time they know the way I coach, the way I prepare my teams."
Ancelotti:
“He (Mourinho) is good at charging up the atmosphere and the team, but it’s ground I would never go on.”.
Mourinho:
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“When I first arrived at Chelsea, I sat all the players down and told them they were fantastic – but they were not champions. I said if they wanted to be champions, then I could help them but the desire had to be in their hearts and their souls – then I looked into their eyes. With Frank, it was very easy to see that he wanted so much to be a champion. I am proud to have worked with such a man.
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"When I am asked who are the best players I have worked with I will always answer that Frank is among the very greatest. Not because he has been successful, but because he is driven every day to become better. This is not a man who is satisfied, there is always hunger in him to push on, to be better than he was yesterday and to give something he has never given before. To me, that is a sign of a perfect professional.”
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Cech:
“When Jose says these things, he always has a reason. He wants to prepare for Wednesday's game in his way and give his team the advantage.
“Yes, he knows the players here and what we can do. But we also know him and the way he likes his team to play but it is just words. All we are worried about is what happens on the pitch. Talking is talking, but let's see who is the best at playing.
“Of course it is exciting to face Jose again and for the Chelsea supporters it is going to be a special occasion. We know what a great past he had at this club and I always had a good working relationship with Jose.
“I had a brilliant time with him and his coaching staff and it is always sad when a successful manager has to leave. But life goes on and he is now successful with Inter Milan and we have also been successful at Chelsea.
“I have not spoken to Jose since he left. It will be nice to see him again and shake his hand. But we cannot think about the past, only the future. And the future for Chelsea is to beat Inter Milan and go through to the quarter-finals."
Mourinho:
"You ask me who can hurt us. Is it Drogba, Lampard, Terry or Cech?
"But if you ask Ancelotti if our danger is Eto'o or Milito or Julio Cesar or Maicon he will say the same as me. But we won't beat Chelsea with nine men."
“He (Ancelotti) is very experienced and knows his way around European football. He did well at Milan under difficult conditions and I think he is doing a good job at Chelsea.
“Sentimental? No. Maybe I will think about Chelsea for one or two seconds when I return to Stamford Bridge, but it won't be anything I will spend a lot of time thinking about.
"Stamford Bridge will always have a special place in my heart. It will, in a lot of ways, be my home in football, no matter where I go in my career.
“The Chelsea fans are fantastic and I am happy they appreciate what I did for them and for English football.'
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Samuel:
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"We have to be strong at the San Siro and not concede. This will make them play differently in the return leg.
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"Everything will be decided at Stamford Bridge but I have the feeling that we'll go to the second game ahead in the tie."
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"Nobody liked the result of the draw but we have to accept it and if we want to do something great in the Champions League we have to beat this kind of opponent.
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“The newspapers have made the English side the favourites because they will play the second leg in London but this factor isn't so decisive for these two teams, in my opinion."
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Mourinho:
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"If a Chelsea player is happier to beat me than to beat another
manager I will be very sad. I just don't understand that. I can't think there would be any special pleasure from that.
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"Just as if I am happier to beat them than to beat another team, then I think they have a reason to be very unhappy with me.
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"After all we're all professionals. I want to win, they want to win... and somebody will win, somebody will lose. This we know, this we accept. But there should be nothing more."
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Old quotes:
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Mourinho:
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"Do I miss Ancelotti? No. I am never friends with my colleagues. There are those who are nice, and others who are not.”
"There are many coaches who have won the Champions League a few times. Carlo is one of them. He is also the only won to have lost a final after being 3-0 up."
Ancelotti:
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"I have friends outside of football. Mourinho is just a colleague who I respect. Friends? He is not my friend. Maybe in future when we are at the end of our careers."
“If Mourinho is Jesus, then I am certainly not one of his apostles."
"Mourinho? I am not fascinated by his personality when he communicates. Sometimes he says useless things. I focus on work. But if he invites me to Appiano Gentile to see one of his sessions then I will go, regardless of their Champions League exit against Manchester United.”
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