Mourinho: "We won't kid around against CSKA; we will give our all in the match"

"We'll have to be stronger than the adverse conditions we'll face" Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell Jose Mourinho analysed tomorrow's match against CSKA Moscow in a press conference given in the Russian capital. "Fabio and I wish to congratulate the basketball team for winning the Copa del Rey after so long. They broke a negative streak in the championship just like we did. We send them our best." "CSKA's squad have been together for a long time and that makes them very dangerous. They should be respected. We will not kid around against them and we will give our all in the match." "We'll have to be stronger than the adverse conditions we'll face. The grass and the temperature will be tough to deal with. These are new conditions for us, but mentality and ambition are stronger than all those factors." "CSKA have a similar team to the one I faced with Inter Milan. They've lost Vagner, but they have Doumbia and Musa. They are a strong side financially and a strong opponent." "I will not say who's going to play because my men don't even know yet. We've analysed CSKA, but we haven't analysed our own strategy yet. We'll miss Lass, but we have Xabi, Kaka, Granero, Sahin and Khedira with us. We'll try to earn a good result to reach the quarterfinals. The tie is won in two games." "This match is too important to make changes to the team or reserve players. We have a solid squad and changes are made according to the characteristics of a game rather than quality. I've chosen the men I think will do better tomorrow against a team that has good tactics and is used to playing in the cold." "My first match in the Champions League was ten years ago against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. I like this championship because it's based on knock-out stages. The best teams play it; they all like to be here. We'll take one step at a time and think about reaching the quarterfinals before we contemplate any other scenario." "I don't like to talk about individual players, but Benzema is working well for the team. His game has improved, he scores goals and works for the team both in attack and defence. He is becoming one of the great European players. I don't want to talk about the Ballon d'Or. I just think about the team. We have a chance to win one title this season and that's the general idea. That's what we're all focusing on. We don't care about individual efforts." "My men have a great psychological attitude in every championship. Their mentality is very good and professional, giving serious performances in every match. I'm sure we'll win an important title this season by working this way, but we have to focus on one game at a time."

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