Inter Milan vs Barcelona: Lionel Messi Won’t Be Man-Marked, Says Jose Mourinho

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho affirmed that his side was not going to man-mark Barcelona star Lionel Messi in both sides’ Champions League game at the San Siro tonight in the semifinals. Mourinho has accepted that Barca winger Messi deserved special attention, but he explained that his players were not going to target him only.

“What we know is that he is an important player but football, for me, is not about marking man to man,” said Mourinho. “It is not one against Messi and 10 versus 10. It will be 11 v 11, although he deserves special attention.”

Referring to Inter Milan’s humiliating 2-0 defeat at the Camp Nou to Barcelona in November 2009, Mourinho went on to say:

“”In the (second) game in the group (of the Champions League), Barca showed that they were far superior. They won easily and we were not capable of responding to them, but that was November, many months ago.

“They have followed their path, we have followed ours, and it seems like we are a lot better than we were in November (last year). I accept that they are favorites – this does not offend me – but I think it’s 50/50.”

Isaac Asante, Footballfantalk.com

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