Jose Mourinho goads Barcelona over Champions League 'obsession'
Mourinho raises stakes with talk of Barcelona 'obsession'
Wednesday, 28, Apr 2010 09:18
By Lewis Bazley.
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has claimed Champions League opponents Barcelona have an "obsession" with winning the tournament at the home of Real Madrid.
Barcelona host Inter at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night looking to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit in order to reach the final at the Bernabeu on May 22nd.
And as he attempts to claim his second Champions League title, former Chelsea boss Mourinho has said Barcelona's bid to retain the European trophy is as inspired by their dislike of La Liga rivals Real Madrid as by adding to their trophy cabinet.
"It is not a dream for Barca, it is obsession. The obsession is reaching the final in Madrid," he said.
"It's one thing to follow a dream, it's another to have an obsession. For Barca it is an obsession."
Barcelona fans mock Mourinho by calling him "the translator", in reference to his time as the late Sir Bobby Robson's interpreter at the Nou Camp but the Portuguese drew on his experiences in Spain to target Barca's mindset ahead of Wednesday's semi-final second leg.
"I experienced what it is like here, I have won cups - against Betis in 1997 - at the Bernabeu, where everyone was wrapped in Catalan flags I know what it is about, it is anti-Madridismo. It is an obsession," Mourinho commented.
"A dream is more pure than an obsession, an obsession is more about pride.
"Barca achieved a dream winning the Champions League in Paris and Rome last year but this time it is more about Madrid and playing at the Santiago Bernabeu."
Though a place in the final against Bayern Munich is at stake, Mourinho played down the personal importance of the trophy to him.
"I can't say for me it is a personal dream [to win the Champions League] as I have won it before but I want to win it for Inter as it is more than 40 years since they got to the final," he explained.
"If I can help [Inter Milan president Massimo] Moratti, if I can help the players and if I can contribute a little bit as coach to achieve this dream then I would be very happy."