Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho again spoke of his dislike for Italian soccer on the eve of his side's Champions League quarter-final first leg against CSKA Moscow.
“I am very happy at Inter but not in Italian football,” the former Chelsea and coach told Sky Sports on Tuesday. Asked why, he said: “Because I don't like it and it doesn’t like me, simple.”
Mourinho has also voiced his displeasure with elements of Italian soccer in the past.
The Portuguese again declined to talk to the media after his Serie A leaders lost 2-1 at AS Roma on Saturday, continuing a month-long media boycott before and after Italian league games.
Meanwhile Inter forward Samuel Eto’o believes CSKA Moscow could present a more challenging encounter than in the previous round against Chelsea.
The Nerazzurri host the Russian outfit in the first leg looking to replicate the form which saw them see off Chelsea last time out.
Mourinho’s side beat the Blues 2-1 at home before winning 1-0 in London to put Inter in the last eight of the competition for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.
Eto’o, a former Champions League winner with Barcelona who is in his first season with Inter, said: “To have progressed to the quarter-finals was psychologically very important for us.
Tomorrow’s game will not be easy, perhaps it will be more difficult than the game in London. But I hope we can get a good result so that the game in Moscow will be an open one.
“I think a 2-0 win would be ideal but a 1-0 triumph would also be good.”