Mou: Tactics, motivation and Eto'o
Thursday 6 August, 2009
Jose Mourinho will field Samuel Eto’o in Saturday’s Italian Super Cup, but warns Lazio are the favourites because they are “more motivated.”
Inter go into this game in Beijing, which you can watch LIVE on ESPN, as the Scudetto holders and take on the Coppa Italia victors.
“I would have preferred more time to prepare for this tie, as we are a new team and have had to change 40 per cent of the starting XI,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“We can win this type of match, but I hope it doesn’t reach extra time, as that would weigh heavily on us right now.”
It is set to be the competitive debut for Eto’o, who completed his transfer from Barcelona in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Eto’o will play about 60-70 minutes, as he cannot yet sustain a full match. Is the pressure on him to replace Ibrahimovic? No, if you look at their careers, the pressure is all on Ibra.
“I do not forget those who have given so much to this team, but nor am I sad with this exchange and I don’t think any of the fans are either.”
Mourinho’s men are the favourites to lift the trophy in China, but Mourinho does not see it that way.
“It will be a battle of motivation. I told my players we must be as highly motivated as they are, or even more so. It is an historic event for Lazio, because they have not won this trophy in a long time, whereas we are accustomed to victory.”
The Biancocelesti’s last edition of the Italian Super Cup was won against Inter in a spectacular 4-3 result in 2000.
“I expect a difficult game, as we are facing a Lazio side that in recent years has shown great quality, but above all because this team has a new Coach and so we don’t know how they will approach it.
“We have two tactical options with the same principles of football. It’s a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield or the 4-3-3. We tried both out this summer and so are ready to use either.”
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