Mourinho: "We should have won it in the first half"

Saturday, 24 October 2009 23:59:07

MILAN - José Mourinho is a happy man after his team's 2-1 victory at home to Catania. "I'm pleased with the way the team played in the first half and with they way they fought in the second," he said.
"It's never easy to go on the pitch after a Champions League match and we made four changes from the game against Dynamo Kiev. It could have been a different, easier match tonight. Just think about the crossbar Vieira hit and the other moves we built. Then, after our opponents' goal we had a bit more pressure and their play left us in doubt until the end."

Cordoba was back in the starting lineup and Mourinho is pleased with the Colombian defender's display. "Ivan was very well prepared to play. I decided to rest Samuel, and Stankovic too because I'm very pleased with the way Vieira is playing at the moment. We might change two or three players against Palermo, but we will see.

"Balotelli did better tonight than his week of training, but I'm satisfied with the team and the three points, which are very important. How did he react to my words? He didn't react. Chivu is doing very well, physically he's very strong and I'm really pleased with his last few matches. Defensively he's very good and he helps us construct play.

"Vieira is working well. He hasn't had any injuries recently. He's not a player with great velocity but he knows how to take his chances. He's a real option for us at the moment. Should Sneijder help out more in defence? I want him to occupy his position and not worry about anything else."

Mourinho concluded his post-match interview by comparing the other teams who have had him as coach, and their rapport with the Champions League. "Porto was a very young team that could play three matches without any problems. Chelsea are the strongest team in the world from a physical point of view. Their shortest player is 1.81m tall. Inter are a bit different. We have players of a different profile. Some of our players have problems playing with lots of frequency. This is why in the next championship matches I might rest some of them who are fundamental for Inter's game so I can have them available for the European matches."

Source By inter.it