Mourinho: "Empathy isn't just kiss kiss..."
Posted On Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at at 3:47 AM by YOPINTER 2
APPIANO GENTILE - José Mourinho opened his Fiorentina-Inter press briefing by commenting on the players who incurred his wrath during Sunday's goalless draw with Genoa.
He said: "I have spoken with the players that I needed to speak to. I have spoken to the team. As always, I spoke clearly and without any doubts. So I will only talk about the players called up, and I won't comment on all the rest."
He added: "There's no questioning the empathy that exists among us. Empathy doesn't just mean kiss kiss. Empathy means a loyal, honest and sincere relationship. I give maximum protection to those who play badly, which can happen, but why, and I ask you, shouldn't I criticise those who don't play for the team? The team is the most important thing for me."
Inter's midweek trip to Florence is the first of three consecutive away matches, with Reggina at the Granillo on Saturday and Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus the following Tuesday.
"Fiorentina are an excellent team who are playing the good football they played last season, and they are particularly strong at home," said Mourinho. "They're playing in the Champions League and they're among the top teams in the championship. They have a good coach, I like their team and I consider them in the race for the Scudetto."
With limited options in midfield after Sulley Muntari became the latest addition to the casualty list, Mourinho was asked if Cristian Chivu will play in the middle of the park in Florence. "For me, Chivu is a central defender," he explained. "He played at left-back against Genoa but he's a versatile player who can play in midfield, so he will be an option because we don't have many midfielders. But for tomorrow we have Vieira, Stankovic, Dacourt and Zanetti, and that's a large enough group to form a team.
"We have a very strong group of central defenders at the moment. Only Nelson Rivas is out. All the others can play. As for the midfield, Jimenez could be back for the next league match, or the next Champions League match at the latest. The same goes for Cambiasso."
He said: "I have spoken with the players that I needed to speak to. I have spoken to the team. As always, I spoke clearly and without any doubts. So I will only talk about the players called up, and I won't comment on all the rest."
He added: "There's no questioning the empathy that exists among us. Empathy doesn't just mean kiss kiss. Empathy means a loyal, honest and sincere relationship. I give maximum protection to those who play badly, which can happen, but why, and I ask you, shouldn't I criticise those who don't play for the team? The team is the most important thing for me."
Inter's midweek trip to Florence is the first of three consecutive away matches, with Reggina at the Granillo on Saturday and Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus the following Tuesday.
"Fiorentina are an excellent team who are playing the good football they played last season, and they are particularly strong at home," said Mourinho. "They're playing in the Champions League and they're among the top teams in the championship. They have a good coach, I like their team and I consider them in the race for the Scudetto."
With limited options in midfield after Sulley Muntari became the latest addition to the casualty list, Mourinho was asked if Cristian Chivu will play in the middle of the park in Florence. "For me, Chivu is a central defender," he explained. "He played at left-back against Genoa but he's a versatile player who can play in midfield, so he will be an option because we don't have many midfielders. But for tomorrow we have Vieira, Stankovic, Dacourt and Zanetti, and that's a large enough group to form a team.
"We have a very strong group of central defenders at the moment. Only Nelson Rivas is out. All the others can play. As for the midfield, Jimenez could be back for the next league match, or the next Champions League match at the latest. The same goes for Cambiasso."
