José Mourinho Reflects on Atlético Madrid and Champions League Semifinal
Ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atlético Madrid, José Mourinho returned to the Spanish capital nearly a year after leaving Real Madrid. During his pre-match press conference, the Chelsea manager expressed his respect for Atlético Madrid, emphasizing that reaching the Champions League semi-final is a testament to their quality.
“I think every player and manager wants to be part of a match like this,” Mourinho said, before acknowledging the strength of Atlético. “I’m not here to talk to you about Atlético’s qualities; I’ve done that before with my players. No team reaches the Champions League semi-final without being very good, and there are no exceptions. If they’re here, it’s because they’re a very good team. We respect them, we’ve studied and analyzed them. I’m not going to tell you how I see Atlético as a team.”
Mourinho also made it clear that he does not appreciate comparisons between himself and Atlético Madrid’s coach, Diego Simeone. “It’s difficult to compare coaches. I would even say it’s not fair. It’s not fair to compare a coach with 15 years of experience to someone with less experience. It’s something I don’t like to do,” he stated.
Mourinho’s focus was firmly on his team’s preparations and the respect he holds for their opponents, as Chelsea look to make an impact in this crucial tie.
