ITALY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Inter Milan's Mourinho and Manchester United's Ferguson both confident ahead of Champions League match

Record ID: 336248

  • Title: ITALY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Inter Milan's Mourinho and Manchester United's Ferguson both confident ahead of Champions League match
  • Date: 24th February 2009
  • Summary: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 23, 2009) (REUTERS) JOURNALISTS STAND WITH INTER MILAN T-SHIRTS INTER MILAN COACH JOSE MOURINHO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTER MILAN COACH JOSE MOURINHO SAYING OF MANCHESTER UNITED: "It means nothing special, it means the same if the opponent is another one, if the opponent is from another country and if the op
  • Embargoed: 11th March 2009 12:00
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  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA547M0MIUBJ6XQTMZK4PZREIF7
  • Story Text: Confident Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said he expected holders Manchester United to play defensively in Tuesday's (February 24) Champions League last 16 first leg. United are without the suspended Nemanja Vidic and fellow centre back Jonny Evans is struggling with an ankle knock, but Mourinho still thinks Alex Ferguson will try to play it tight.
    "I don't believe Manchester will come to the San Siro to win, they will play very defensively," Mourinho told a news conference on Monday.
    "I am sure that tomorrow nothing will be decided but everything will come down to the return leg at Old Trafford (on March 11)."
    The game brings the Portuguese manager face to face with Ferguson for the first time since he left Chelsea in 2007, having beaten United to the English title in 2005 and 2006.
    Mourinho, whose Porto side knocked United out on their way to winning the Champions League in 2004, has got the better of Ferguson most of the time -- winning six, drawing five and losing one of their 12 meetings.
    Inter have only won the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, but Mourinho was keen to take the pressure off his players.
    "They don't need to be scared, we must always keep our individuality," he said.
    "To eliminate Manchester would be nothing special, the important thing is to reach the next round. We have no fear, I think we will be in the final in a few months."
    Despite stumbling through the group stages, Inter are nine points clear in Serie A and Mourinho sees no reason to change his tactics against the in-form Premier League leaders.
    "We will not change our way of playing. It will be 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and Adriano will be in attack,"
    Mourinho said.
    The Portuguese, who succeeded Roberto Mancini as coach in June, started the season trying to recreate the three-man attack that worked for him at Chelsea, but quickly abandoned the idea.
    Inter have since relied on their physical power and aerial ability in the box to bludgeon the rest of Serie A.
    Centre back Walter Samuel is almost certainly out with a calf strain.
    Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said the injury-hit holders were capable of at least scoring an away goal in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg match against Inter Milan.
    Inter coach Jose Mourinho expects United to go on the defensive at the San Siro and thinks the tie will only be decided at Old Trafford on March 11, possibly in extra-time.
    Ferguson, however, said he wants his side to express themselves in the first leg.
    "I'm sure Jose has seen us enough to know that we seldom go into a game not trying to win and it won't change tomorrow," Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
    "We won't be changing much...perhaps one positional change different from normal, but otherwise we'll play in the normal way.
    "I think it will be decided tomorrow, if we score we'll have a great chance. If we score an away goal it will help," the 67-year-old added. "It would have been a great final, I don't think it will go to extra-time (at Old Trafford)."
    United are without the suspended Nemanja Vidic and fellow defenders Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Rafael have been ruled out through injury.
    John O'Shea and Jonny Evans flew out to Milan despite also carrying knocks.
    "Obviously we have some injury problems, we won't know until tomorrow. It's a worrying moment for us," Ferguson said.
    O'Shea is the most likely to be fit but if the Irishman and Evans do not recover, there are no obvious choices to partner Rio Ferdinand in central defence against the Serie A leaders.
    "The options are panic," Ferguson joked. "I'm hoping one will make it."
    The other defenders in the squad are left back Patrice Evra and youngsters Fabio da Silva and Richard Eckersley, who are full backs and have barely featured for the first team.
    Ferguson, who picked out Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the dangerman, will renew acquaintances with Mourinho on Tuesday for the first time since the Portuguese left Chelsea in 2007.
    Mourinho, whose Porto side knocked United out on their way to winning the Champions League in 2004, has got the better of Ferguson most of the time, winning six, drawing five and losing one of their 12 meetings.
    "I didn't change in the last 12 games so maybe I should change," Ferguson said when asked again about his formation.
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