CL - Mourinho could knock European kings Barce out tonight..
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Never mind Liverpool, Inter coach Jose Mourinho could do for European kings Barcelona
Preparing for action: Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho gives instructions to his players during a training session at the Nou Camp on Monday
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 - (Wed Morning)
Channel 61: "Live"Barcelona vs. Inter Milan - 3:45 amThey are playing the European Cup final early this season, at least that’s how it seems in Barcelona. The holders are 90 minutes from being knocked out and the man who could evict them is the man all Barca fans love to hate - Jose Mourinho.
The former Chelsea coach labelled Barcelona the best team in the world ahead of their clash but said his Inter side went into the game without fear.
‘I prefer to play a game like this that is going to be very difficult than a game that is going to be too easy for us.'A Chelsea v Liverpool game is always better than a Chelsea v Birmingham - those matches worry me more when there is a question about getting the players motivated.
'This is a massive match for us and it changes nothing that they have slipped in the league of late.
‘The odds on Barca winning the tournament have not changed. They were the favourites and they are still the favourites. But anything can happen.
'It could be that Kiev and Rubin go to the next round and Inter and Barca are left to fight it out for the Europa League spot.’
If Rubin Kazan beat Dynamo Kiev in a game that will already have finished before Inter and Barca kick off at the Nou Camp, Barcelona will go out if they lose - left to scrap for a Europa League place in the final round of Group F matches.
Leo Messi looks set to start on the bench with Zlatan Ibrahimovic likely to have overcome a hamstring injury.
But Mourinho said Barca’s final line-up would have no bearing on his team selection and he has particular faith in Romania centre back Cristian Chivu to marshal his defence.
Barca star: Lionel Messi looks likely to start on the bench against Inter
‘If Messi plays then I will play Chivu, if Pedro plays then I will play Chivu, if Iniesta plays then I will play Chivu. My only doubt is if Wesley Sneijder will be fit or not.’
Mourinho was sliding along the touchline the last time he was at the Nou Camp, but the mood ahead of this play-off was much more respectful.
He said: ‘I am coming back to Barcelona with only gratitude for all the experience that they gave me and how they formed me as a coach. I have played six games against them with Chelsea and one with Inter and they have been emotional games.
'I have a debt to Barca but with all my soul every time I was determined to beat them.’
Guardiola refused to rule out Messi but admitted it would be a massive loss in what is Barcelona’s biggest game since the European Cup final.
He said: ‘Messi is the best player in the world so of course we will miss him if he does not play. If (Michael) Jordan doesn’t play for Chicago, if Kobe Bryant doesn’t play for the Lakers they miss him but we have to play with what we have.
‘Messi is not ruled out, but we can beat them regardless of whether Ibrahimovic and Messi play or not.’
With two of his first-choice front three less than 100 per cent, Guardiola admitted Thierry Henry will have a big part to play.‘He knows what an important game it is. He is crazy about going all the way again in this competition and he’ll be focused.’
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im backing inter to win by 1
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arrrrr inter danger of getting out liao
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the 1st half played by barcelona is sublime. not only they scored 2 exquisite goals, the passing and control of the match was impeccable.
inter try to rough up iniesta and some of the barce midfielders, but i thot the ref has a good game keeping the players in check.
barce was a joy to watch in this game.
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2-0, Barca come out winners.
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Originally posted by youyayu:
arrrrr inter danger of getting out liao
then good lar. see what else does mourinho has to say lol. your ex coach of chelsea
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inter seriously wtf
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Originally posted by Poignant:
inter seriously wtf
why wtf? they cmi in europe lar.
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heng yest nvr bet on them to win
i was thinking of buying inter to win by 1
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Originally posted by Poignant:
heng yest nvr bet on them to win
i was thinking of buying inter to win by 1
siao. unless inter is at home lor. but its barcelona who is at home and they are desperate to win leh. inter sucks in CL, but they are kings in serie a.
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king in serie a??
please.. which team can complete with them?
all the team all like slack slack see inter take title without even a fight
milan dead
juventus relegate dmg
as roma deader then milan
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Milan still got good players like ronaldino, pato, gattuso and pirlo. but they are all old now, except for pato. they should hang on to pato, cos he will be big in a few years time.