Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Mourinho pledges attacking football for Inter

 Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has pledged an attacking approach in his team's Champions League campaign which starts with an away tie at Panathinaikos on Tuesday.

The former Porto and Chelsea coach told a news conference on Monday that his soccer philosophy had not changed with his move to Italy.

"My teams are always attacking teams," he said. "Before I came to Italian football I told myself that no matter how long I stay I will never change my ideas as a coach.

"This is my idea about football. I will never field nine or 10 players in front of the goalkeeper just to get a result."

Mourinho, who left Chelsea a year ago, also said he was under no pressure from Inter president Massimo Moratti to win the competition.

"Mr Moratti has never told me to win the Champions League and I don't feel under pressure to do so. We have our goals for this season and we have to play at a high level," he said.

"I don't accept being evaluated on being a coach on results only, although my teams do tend to win."

Mourinho said his team would respect the opposition at the match in the Olympic stadium.

"I won't be modest and say we are not favourites, we are. We want to win the competition," he said. "But I am a realist, I am not a crazy person.

"I have had 50 matches in this competition and I know it is not just Manchester United, Chelsea and Milan, I know it is not just the top teams from Spain, Italy and England. Or Bayern Munich.

"Panathinaikos have a good team, perhaps not good enough to win the trophy but then Greece didn't have a team that was good enough to win the European championships four years ago but they did it.

"They are well organised and ambitious and could get through the group. It is difficult for teams to come here and win so we have the utmost respect for our opponents."

source: soccernet

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