Mourinho: We Can Beat Manchester United

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Inter coach Jose Mourinho was in a thoughtful and considered mood ahead of tomorrow night's crucial second leg Champions League knock-out phase tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford, but despite the laid-back, good natured demeanour, there was still a hint of the mind games for which both he and his opposite number at United are well-known when he spoke to reporters at his pre-match press conference earlier today.

When asked whether a 0-0 scoreline from the first leg in Milan made the Red Devils favourites to progress in the tie, 'The Special One' was equivocal, preferring to highlight the advantages he felt that his own side possessed.

"They [United] are disappointed they didn't score in the first-half, we were disappointed we didn't score in the second half," he mused, in front of the Sky Sports News cameras.

"They thought they could get a better result because 0-0 away from home is not a very good result. It's result that leaves a lot of questions in the air.

"It's not an easy result and we were a bit disappointed because a draw at home is never a great result too. So I think it was a game of a little bit of frustration for both sides."

The Portuguese, who acknowledged he was suffering from the effects of flu, also looked back to his time as Chelsea boss for evidence of the tricky nature of a first-leg goalless draw.

"In my mind it's good result for the team that plays the second leg away," he continued.

"I lost a semi-final against Liverpool with a 0-0 draw at home in the first leg. It's not a result that gives someone a better position.

"If they win, they go through. If we win we go through. If we draw with goals, we go through, and the difference between all these three situations is a very, very narrow distance."

The Portuguese delved further back into his past when he was quizzed as to whether the coach that visited Old Trafford with Porto five years ago, and produced a spectacular dash along the touchline in celebration when his side scored, was a different coach to the one taking on United with Inter tomorrow night.

"It's difficult to answer, you know," he replied. "Five years ago, that was the first time I was coming to Old Trafford so everything was new to me.

"Now it looks like home, because for four years I came here a lot of times. It's become part of my life. I even know the grass man! He's a nice guy.

"My feeling about football didn't change, it's exactly the same."

Mourinho then had some words for the Italian media, that perhaps hinted at a little frustration with the way football in Italy is covered by the country's media.

"Maybe our Italian friends see football in a different way," he asserted. "They see football as more of a drama in difficult moments. I prefer to think in a different way.

"I was never like this. Football is never a drama, football is passion and pleasure. It's pleasure to play tomorrow and that's the feeling I want to give my players."

As for whether the Inter coach would ever like to follow Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford, Mourinho responded to reporters questions with typical good humour.

"In 20 years maybe!" he joked, before enumerating the reasons as to why Ferguson would in all probability last that long, adding, "He's top, he's strong, he's happy, he wins. So let him be for 20 more years, I hope."

And the team that Ferguson has built will be tricky opponents too, Mourinho thought, as he listed United's many qualities.

"They have a top team, they're very well organised with lots of options in defence, " he went on.

"They don't concede many to the opposition, and in attack they have a group of incredible strikers and he [Ferguson] can choose the combination he wants.

"If he prefers a target man, he goes for Berbatov. If he prefers speedy movement and transition, he goes for Tevez. If he prefers a winger he goes for different qualities.

"He can do it. He has this ammunition in his hands and he's clever in the way he does it. They are never predictable.

"But tomorrow is going to be difficult for them too. I think they know that."

And the 'Special One' concluded with an upbeat message for Inter fans, asserting, "We are prepared. I believe we can do it."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com

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