Mourinho explains Balotelli row

February 4, 2010

Jose Mourinho has explained the reason behind last night’s shouting match with Mario Balotelli during Internazionale’s Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina (1-0).

The Portuguese manager commented on the cause of the touchline row. “He’s got to defend first, then focus on his problems.”

A furious Balotelli was substituted moments after the row and the youngster went straight into the tunnel, throwing his gloves on the ground and avoiding the Inter bench entirely.

“In my tactics the players must always defend first and foremost, even if they have a problem,” explained Mourinho on RAI television.

“I don’t care if they picked up an injury or lost their contact lenses. He’s got to defend first, then focus on his problems.”

Diego Milito produced the only goal in the first leg win at the Giuseppe Meazza while the second leg is in Florence on April 14.

“I liked the result more than the performance, especially in the second half,” added Mourinho.

“I expected more from my men, but the Viola controlled the tempo and forced me into certain changes.

“Only after the second leg will we know if this was a good result. It is already an advantage that we did not concede on home turf.

“Playing in Florence will not be easy and they’ll be eager to overturn this defeat.”

Tags: april 14, balotelli, bench, contact lenses, coppa italia, diego milito, Florence, giuseppe meazza, gloves, home turf, internazionale, Jose, jose mourinho, mario, Mario Balotelli, Rai, second half, shouting match, television, tempo, viola, youngster

No red carpet for Eto´o, says Mourinho

January 30, 2010

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has warned Samuel Eto’o he will have to fight for his place after returning from African Nations Cup duty.

Diego Milito, new arrival Goran Pandev and Mario Balotelli have made sure Cameroon star Eto’o has not been missed over the last month and Mourinho has not called Eto’o up for the leaders’ visit to Parma on Sunday.

The trio’s efforts have helped champions Inter to stretch their lead over second-placed AC Milan, who have played one game less, to nine points, with Milito and Pandev scoring the goals in last week’s 2-0 win over their city rivals.

Balotelli scored the last-gasp goal that took Inter into the Italian Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Juventus on Thursday.

And Mourinho warned Saturday: “There will be no red carpet waiting for Eto’o. That might have happened with someone else, but not with me.

“Samuel has to get back to 100 percent and that’s why, if he has not recovered from all the fatigue of the African Nations Cup, it’s better to wait because it is very hard to start up front for Inter at the moment.”

Eto’o did not train with his teammates on Saturday, but had physiotherapy on a knock to his right foot that he suffered at the African Nations Cup, the club said on their website (www.inter.it).

Mourinho said he expects the visit to 12th-placed Parma to be especially tough, partly because of the team’s recent exertions in beating Milan and Juventus, and partly because of Parma’s “cunning” coach, Francesco Guidolin.

“It’ll be a difficult match,” added the Portuguese.

“Guidolin is cunning, in the good sense of the word. He knows how to play with the players he has. Sometimes he adapts to the opposition, sometimes he changes formation, but he also knows how to build a team capable of playing (good football).”

ROME (AFP)

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Last-gasp Balotelli helps Inter pile on Juve agony

January 29, 2010

Mario Balotelli scored a last-gasp winner to help Inter Milan add to Juventus’s misery on Thursday with a 2-1 comeback win at the San Siro that takes them into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup.

The forward thumped in the rebound of a Thiago Motta shot one minute before the end of regulation time after Lucio’s 71st-minute goal had cancelled out Diego’s early opener for the visitors.

Inter will face Fiorentina in a two-leg semi-final, the first of which will take place next week.

The match could be Ciro Ferrara’s last in charge of Juve as Italian media say the club intend to sack him after a dreadful run of form.

Thursday’s defeat leaves his side with little real chance of winning a trophy this season as they are already out of the Champions League and have dropped to sixth in Serie A, 16 points behind leaders Inter, after losing five of their last six league games.

Juventus took the lead in the 10th minute when Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who looked insecure after getting a rare start with Julio Cesar resting on the bench, let a seemingly inoffensive shot by Diego slip though his arms and the middle of his legs.

The hosts, who are nine points clear at the top of Serie A after Sunday’s 2-0 derby win over second-placed AC Milan, had Juve pinned back for a spell after going behind and were unlucky not to have a penalty for handball by Felipe Melo in the 44th.

The Italian champions pressed even harder after the break.

Juve, without flu-hit captain Alessandro Del Piero and a long list of injured players, withstood the pressure for a spell and had chances at the other end. Diego was not far off target with a good right-footed effort and defender Giorgio Chiellini hit the post with a header in the 55th.

But centre back Lucio broke down their resistance by poking in after a Wesley Sneijder free-kick took a big deflection off the wall before Balotelli sealed it for Inter.

The authorities closed the away stand of the San Siro to prevent Juve fans attending a match they considered high-risk of being hit by trouble.

The rivalry between the two sets of fans has always been intense but the situation has become especially tense by Juve’s fans repeatedly racially abusing Balotelli, an Italy Under 21 international of Ghanaian descent.

AS Roma and Udinese will meet in the other last-four tie after getting past Catania and AC Milan respectively.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: AC, ac milan, Alessandro Del Piero, captain Alessandro del Piero, catania, deflection, felipe melo, francesco toldo, giorgio chiellini, inter milan, italian champions, italian cup, italian media, Italy, julio cesar, juve fans, last gasp, league games, Mario Balotelli, Milan, minute goal, regulation time, Roma, ROME, San, san siro, target, Thiago Motta, udinese, Wesley Sneijder

Juve fans continue to bait Balotelli

January 17, 2010

Juventus fans continued their campaign of abuse against Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli during Sunday’s match away to Chievo in Verona.

Earlier this week Juve were hit with a partial stadium closure due to chants of a racial nature their fans directed at Balotelli, an Italian of Ghanaian origin, in previous matches.

It was the third time this season that Juve had been punished for racial chants, although previously they were hit only with fines.

This time around their south stand, from where the majority of the chants tend to originate, has been closed for their next Serie A home game against Roma next weekend.

Last season they were forced to play one match behind closed doors due to racist chants against the same player during their home match against Inter Milan.

The chants during Sunday’s game were not racial in nature but the continued targeting of Balotelli, who is black, has ensured racism remains a hot topic in Italian football circles.

Juve were previously punished when fans chanted: “There are no black Italians”, while Sunday’s chorus consisted of: “If you jump up and down, Balotelli will die”.

Teenager Balotelli is a divisive figure in Italian football largely due to his occasionally impetuous on-field behaviour.

However, the forward is also considered one of the country’s brightest young talents and many commentators are clamouring for him to be included in Italy’s World Cup for South Africa in June.

Balotelli’s parents are Ghanaian immigrants and he was born in Palermo on the island of Sicily before being fostered to an Italian family when he was three.

His birth-parents’ surname is Barwuah but he uses the surname of his adoptive parents.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: adoptive parents, birth parents, black italians, chants, closed doors, commentators, home game, home match, immigrants, inter milan, island of sicily, italian family, italian football, Italy, juve fans, juventus fans, Mario Balotelli, Milan, Palermo, play one, Roma, ROME, sicily, South Africa, striker, third time, verona

Inter stretch lead over Milan with win over Chievo

January 7, 2010

Serie A champions Inter Milan started the new year with a 1-0 win over Chievo to stretch their lead over AC Milan, who face Genoa later Wednesday, to 11 points.

Inter were deprived of a number of midfield stars, handing a rare start to wantaway French midfielder Patrick Vieira who is being tipped to move to Manchester City.

However their absences due to injury proved no major handicap and striker Mario Balotelli gave Jose Mourinho’s side a welcome lead when he struck on the counter in the 12th minute.

Inter were given little trouble for the remainder of the match and pocketed the three points to sit on 42 in total after 18 games.

“I am extremely happy,” said Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho.

“These are the type of matches that are decisive and puts a smile on a coach’s face because the personality displayed by the team was astonishing.”

It was not all happy news for Inter, though, as their Romanian international defender Cristian Chivu fractured his skull in a clash of heads in the 46th minute while Balotelli was subjected to racist abuse.

Balotelli, born in Palermo but of Ghanaian heritage, is regularly subjected to such insults but usually tries to shrug it off.

After what was the final Inter game for another black player, Frenchman Patrick Vieira, who is tipped to sign for Manchester City, the 19-year-old Balotelli could not contain his anger.

“Every time I come to Verona I realise that the supporters disgust me more and more. It’s completely unacceptable,” Balotelli told Sky Sports.

Elsewhere Juventus got off to a winning start to the new year having lost five of their previous six matches in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Parma.

Midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic scored only three minutes into the encounter and an own-goal had them 2-0 up by the break.

The ‘Old Lady’ hung on for the three points despite having on-loan defender Martin Caceres sent-off in the second-half. They move into second place though AC Milan can replace them later should they beat Genoa.

Juventus suffered an injury worry as French striker David Trezeguet went off with an apparent sprained ankle after being tackled by Parma’s veteran defender Christian Panucci in the 18th minute.

Juventus said the full extent of the injury would be known on Thursday.

Napoli lie fourth after a 2-0 victory over Atalanta while Roma will be kicking themselves after letting a 2-0 lead slip away at Cagliari with the home side scoring twice in time added on to force a 2-2 draw.

AC Milan’s match should see England star David Beckham making his debut after returning on loan from LA Galaxy.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, chievo, Christian Panucci, cristian chivu, David Beckham, david trezeguet, disgust, England, frenchman, genoa, happy news, Hasan Salihamidzic, insults, inter milan, Jose, jose mourinho, little trouble, manchester city, Mario Balotelli, martin caceres, midfielder, napoli, old lady, Palermo, patrick vieira, racist abuse, ROME, skull, Sky Sports, three minutes

Inter’s Balotelli lets fly at racist Chievo fans

January 7, 2010

Italian striker Mario Balotelli on Wednesday hit out at supporters of Chievo after suffering yet another barrage of racist insults while playing for his club, Inter Milan.

Balotelli, born in Palermo but of Ghanaian heritage, scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute to send Inter 11 points clear of closest rivals AC Milan as Serie A resumed after a short winter break.

However his joy was tinged with racist chants and jeering that left the 19-year-old striking sensation “more and more disgusted” with Chievo, who are based in Verona – the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

His outburst was all the more poignant as the Italian, who is regularly subjected to such behaviour, usually refrains from hitting back.

“I just want to say one thing. Every time I come to Verona I realise that the supporters disgust me more and more. It’s completely unacceptable,” he told Sky Sports.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho tried to play down the incident.

“Verona is a magnificent town. The club is held in high esteem … and if something kicks off in the stands it doesn’t change all that,” said the Portuguese.

“Let’s not get too carried away by it. I also heard a few unsavoury things about myself, but I just ignore it.”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, barrage, chants, chievo, club inter, disgust, insults, inter milan, jose mourinho, Juliet, magnificent town, Mario Balotelli, Milan, outburst, Palermo, portuguese, rivals, ROME, romeo, romeo and juliet, sensation, shakespeare, Sky Sports, striker, verona

Inter Milan coach confirms Vieira exit

January 6, 2010

Patrick Vieira’s departure from Inter Milan was confirmed on Wednesday after coach Jose Mourinho said the French midfield veteran had played his “last game” for the Italian champions.

Vieira, who is being tipped to join Manchester City, was given a rare start for Inter because of several absences in midfield.

The Serie A champions beat Chievo 1-0 thanks to a Mario Balotelli goal in the 12th minute to stretch their lead over city rivals AC Milan to 11 points.

“Today we had a few problems but I have a team full of professionals who went out and did a remarkable job,” Mourinho told Sky Sport.

“I should have good words to say about everybody but the only person I want to talk about is Vieira, who has played his last match for us.

“He had an impeccable game. It was the perfect farewell to us, and I want to wish him all the best for his new career.”

Vieira, 33, has had a shaky past three seasons at Inter Milan and, now on the fringes of the France team, he is desperate for first team football to boost his chances of featuring in Raymond Domenech’s World Cup squad.

Reports this week suggested City have been in talks with Inter over signing Vieira, who has also had the rule run over him by former French champions Lyon.

Mourinho said he believes Vieira, who at the end of the match hugged several of his team-mates, was definitely returning to the English Premier League.

“He hasn’t said a word to anybody but he has mentioned the English Premier League,” added the Portuguese.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who coached Inter when Vieira first arrived following a year with Juventus, said on Monday he was interested in taking the former Arsenal midfielder on loan till the end of the season.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, city rivals, English Premier League, France, france team, inter milan, italian champions, jose mourinho, last game, last match, Lyon, manchester city, Mario Balotelli, midfield, Milan, patrick vieira, premier league, raymond domenech, remarkable job, roberto mancini, ROME, Sky Sport, team football, team mates, three seasons, world cup squad

Mourinho warns Mancini of impending culture shock

December 21, 2009

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has warned Roberto Mancini that he could find the going difficult as the Premier League is “completely different” to Serie A.

But the Internazionale boss, who succeeded Mancini at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also believes that the newly appointed Manchester City manager will enjoy life at Eastlands.

Mancini will appear at his first press conference as City manager later today after being named as the replacement for the sacked Mark Hughes on Saturday evening.

Mourinho had a hugely successful spell at Chelsea before joining Inter and he believes Mancini, who has been out of work since leaving the Nerazzurri in May 2008, is a good fit for ambitious City.

“I want to wish the best of luck to my colleague Roberto Mancini for his appointment at Manchester City,” Mourinho told Sky Italia.

“It will be a great and special experience for him to test himself in a very different reality to Italian football.

“The Premier League is completely different to what he has known so far.

“Mancini is a good coach and has an owner (Sheikh Mansour) who spends a lot of money.

“I don’t see why he shouldn’t be happy in England.”

One man who will not be following Mancini to Eastlands, according to his current employers, is Inter striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has already been earmarked as a potential target for Mancini in the January transfer window, but Inter president Massimo Moratti insists the 19-year-old is going nowhere.

“I think they (Manchester City) have made a great signing (in Mancini),” said Moratti.

“But they should not inquire about Balotelli for January because we are not selling him.”

Balotelli, who is under contract with the Nerazzurri until 2011, has made just six league starts for Mourinho’s side this campaign.

Tags: 19 year old, A. But, best of luck, CHELSEA, CITY, colleague, culture shock, different reality, England, giuseppe meazza, italian football, jose mourinho, manchester city, mansour, Mario Balotelli, Mark Hughes, premier league, president massimo moratti, roberto mancini, saturday evening, sky italia, stadio giuseppe meazza, striker, target

Balotelli: “Leave me in peace”

December 12, 2009

On Friday, Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli blasted his critics. The Italian player with Ghanaian roots has been controversial ever since he made his debut for Inter and has been involved in several incidents both with players as well as with his coach.

Balotelli has also been the subject of racial rows in the recent past. The 19-year-old forward is often the target of racist chants, especially by Juventus fans although they claim that they target Balotelli because of his behaviour and not because of the colour of his skin.

Jose Mourinho also showed his discontent over the attitude of the youngster, who seems to be not that keen on rules and disciplin. Balotelli is fed up with being the centre of (negative) attention all the time. “I let all the bad talk around slide off me,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Sometimes I just want to say leave me in peace and let me live my life.

“Sometimes you just get bored with all the negative headlines. You cannot read bad press about you and negative things everyday,” he added. On Wednesday, Balotelli let his feet do the talking in the Champions league match with Rubin Kazan (2-0 win) when his back-heel assist and a wonder free-kick gave Inter the win and left the footballing press drooling.

Tags: champions league, chants, discontent, free kick, inter milan, italian player, Jose, jose mourinho, juventus fans, Kazan, keen, la gazzetta dello, la gazzetta dello sport, mario, Mario Balotelli, match, Milan, negative attention, negative headlines, rubin kazan, striker, target, youngster

Inter go through but where’s the champagne football?

December 11, 2009

There’s a big difference for reporters like me between covering AC Milan and Inter Milan at their shared San Siro stadium.

For Milan games in the Champions League, the press get a lovely buffet spread before kickoff. Hot pasta, salad, maybe even some nice chicken and good Chianti.

At Inter matches, it’s a few wholesome sandwiches.

On the field it’s pretty much the same from Jose Mourinho’s Inter — solid but no champagne football.

Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan sent the Serie A leaders into the Champions League last 16 but yet again it was a nervy European affair for Inter.

A backheel from Mario Balotelli which set up Samuel Eto’o’s opener and Balotelli’s 35-yard goal from a free kick were the highlights and showed that Inter can play good football if only sporadically.

Mourinho said every possible opponent in February’s first knockout round will be difficult and you have to think that despite their Serie A dominance, their fluency in the big games will have to improve if they are to avoid losing again like they did to Manchester United at the same stage last term.

By the way, the best press room food I ever had was at Chelsea. Would Mourinho fancy going back to Stamford Bridge in the last 16 or are they best avoided?

And would Carlo Ancelotti relish a meeting with ex-club AC Milan? I guess we’ll find out a week on Friday when the draw is made.

PHOTO: Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho controls the ball during the match against Rubin Kazan in their Champions League soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan, December 9, 2009. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

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