José Mourinho praised his players for their performance against Fiorentina in an interview with Sky Sport Italia after Sunday afternoon’s 1-0 win at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“We saw an Inter that didn’t go on the pitch with fear after the defeat in Barcelona, an Inter that played an important match against an opponent that we knew could be difficult,” he said. “Our opponents had a great chance to score with Gilardino on eighty minutes but for eighty minutes my team was the best, had already scored with Samuel before the referee decided to disallow the goal, and then the victory came and it arrived with justice.”
Inter-Fiorentina saw Ricardo Quaresma return to the starting lineup.
“With my players I behave in the same way I do with results. When I won in Kiev everyone said I was the best. I didn’t believe it and I didn’t believe what was said about me after the Barcelona defeat either. I behave in the same way with my players. I have never considered Quaresma a washout, but I don’t think he’s the best player in the world either. He played a great match, showed lots of aggression, and in the last fifteen minutes he had cramp, which was normal. I don’t like doing it, but it’s right that you talk about him and about the fact that he was very special today.
“Milito? There are aspects that are more important than just scoring, like seriousness, professionalism. Today, for example, Eto’o missed a goal with just Frey to beat, but I’m satisfied with him and happy because the team won, and he’s not sad at not scoring. I’m pleased with all three of my strikers today.”
Mario Balotelli watched today’s match from the stands today. Mourinho explained why.
“I think that when a team plays, works and wins like this, it’s a lack of respect to talk about a player who wasn’t on the pitch,” he said. “I don’t have to justify my decision with Mario. He was an option for me, the team won, and I am good again… Many people had written me off and found two or three replacements for me. I thought I would be sent home… I don’t understand why so much is said about Mario. There were two world champions on the bench today – Patrick Vieira and Marco Materazzi – but I didn’t talk about them.”
Thiago Motta, Muntari and Stankovic came off the pitch without yellow cards, meaning all three will be available to face Juventus in Turin next Saturday.
“They weren’t booked because they didn’t commit any fouls, verbal ones included. There’s only one player who usually does these kind of fouls.”
Continuing his post-match analysis on Rai Sport, Mourinho added:
“I saw a fantastic team that would have deserved this adjective and my praise even if we hadn’t won. Not playing Mario was a technical decision and I don’t want to discuss it. The team didn’t miss Mario. If two World Cup winners found a place on the bench, why can’t I send Balotelli into the stands.”
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