Liverpool FC Forum

[The_Rock]

Inter Milan boss Mourinho retracts 'small club' jibe by talking up Liverpool's title credentials
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:47 AM on 25th January 2009

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Liverpool possess 'everything they need' to claim the Barclays Premier League title this season.

Rafael Benitez's Reds sit second in league, level on points with leaders Manchester United but behind on goal difference having also played one game more.

While firmly in the title race, Liverpool have been guilty of squandering points at home to less-fancied opposition this season, but Mourinho, now the boss of Inter Milan, believes they can keep their championship challenge on track.

'It has been interesting watching Liverpool this season,' Mourinho wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

'I think they have everything they need to win the title.

'I still can't understand why they didn't do it in the last four years. Why wouldn't they be able to do it this season? Of course they can.

'The manager is good, the players are good, the crowd is unique, the tradition of the club is big, so why can't they do it? I think they can.'

Mourinho warned, however, that the resumption of the Champions League at the end of next month could again be a distraction for the Anfield club.

'Usually it is when the Champions League starts that they lose their focus on the Premiership,' he continued. 'It was like this in previous years when they did very well in the Champions League but they lost too many points in the championship.

'They have already lost 10 points at home by drawing the kind of matches they used to win. Against Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull and Everton it has been two points lost. So if you can imagine that they had those 10 points now, they would be top of the league.'

The Portuguese also played down the recent spat between Benitez and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

'As for these stories I read about Rafael Benitez and Alex Ferguson exchanging words, this is all part of the game,' he said.

'It is part of the fight you have to make to win a title, part of the pressure that managers try and put on other managers, clubs and structures to try to get an advantage.

'I think Benitez and Ferguson respect each other and both know they are contenders for the title. I don't think it is personal.'

Meanwhile, Mourinho hailed the decision of Kaka to snub the advances of Manchester City and remain in Serie A with AC Milan.

'I am happy that Kaka didn't go there,' he said. 'I want the best players to be in my league. I want my league to be as strong as possible and of course Kaka is absolutely top.

'It would have been very, very bad for Italian football if Kaka had left Serie A.

'When a player like him decides to join City it will be because they have proved there is a big project; because I don't think a player like Kaka is going to leave a club like Milan because of one euro more or one euro less.'

Mourinho 

[NANNY RED]

Rock why are you bowing down to Mourino hes a . an i find it quite offensive for a liverpool supporter to be bowing down to another manager especialy him

Just dont get it, An before you say anything NO im not stalking you

[The_Rock]

Rock why are you bowing down to Mourino hes a . an i find it quite offensive for a liverpool supporter to be bowing down to another manager especialy him

Just dont get it, An before you say anything NO im not stalking you

You are boring me...seriously. Mourinho praised our team...and i am just paying him my respect...whats wrong with that ?

Why don't you get down from your high horse.... You criticize keane...you criticize babel. Then when someone else says something about benitez (or alonso) you act all so holy and lecture them

eg....Todays match....all i said were alonso and skertel were to be blamed for conceding the ever$hit goal...and then you have another go at me ? you are not objective at all...

Listen....you have the right to praise or criticize anybody....similarly...the other members of this forum have that right too.

you notice...i tend to keep away from your postings unless they are directed at me..... so.......  get off my back...

I mean this is the 2nd time today.... and it is starting to pi$$ me off...

[tubby]

I reckon Mourhino was just being sarcastic like. If we were drawn with them in the CL he would probably be slagging us off.

[Zidane]

Mourinho playing mind games with Ferguson already!

[tubby]

I think Mourinho is better at mind games than Rafa. Rafa seems to end up with egg on his face most of the time when he opens his mouth.

[The_Rock]

I think Mourinho is better at mind games than Rafa. Rafa seems to end up with egg on his face most of the time when he opens his mouth.

Don't praise mourinho dude.....certain members here will find it offensive.... 

[Madmax]

Would agree with bav, seems like all the fergie chat has backfired.. mannure have overtaken us and are seeming to get in gear whilst we are still the draw specialists.

[tubby]

I think Mourinho is better at mind games than Rafa. Rafa seems to end up with egg on his face most of the time when he opens his mouth.

Don't praise mourinho dude.....certain members here will find it offensive.... 

Wasn't praising him in that sense, just that he can talk better than Rafa. Rafa is better at playing the nice quiet guy who does his talking on the pitch.

I remember when he first came he was all quiet and then before that home game against Chelsea he came out with some rubbish that Chelsea were scared of us or something and we ended up losing 4-1 at home. I think sometimes when Rafa says those kinds of things maybe some of the players feel under more pressure to perform hence they choke and don't perform.

[The_Rock]

I think Mourinho is better at mind games than Rafa. Rafa seems to end up with egg on his face most of the time when he opens his mouth.

Don't praise mourinho dude.....certain members here will find it offensive.... 

Wasn't praising him in that sense, just that he can talk better than Rafa. Rafa is better at playing the nice quiet guy who does his talking on the pitch.

I remember when he first came he was all quiet and then before that home game against Chelsea he came out with some rubbish that Chelsea were scared of us or something and we ended up losing 4-1 at home. I think sometimes when Rafa says those kinds of things maybe some of the players feel under more pressure to perform hence they choke and don't perform.

yeah...... beneitz isn't in the same league when it comes to mind games.....

I still remember the espn commentators mentioning that benitez reminded them of the dustin hoffman character in rain-man as in how he read from the notes when he was flaming fergie...

It looks like that incident has really put a egg on his face as we have been drawing all our games since then....

Hopefully he remains quiet until the end of the season...

[tubby]

Hicks will be speaking with Rafa next week about his contract so hopefully something posative will come from that. But otherwise yeah he needs to keep his mouth shut now and concentrate on getting his players to focus and find their form.

[Pablo]

Hi, 1st time post on here. I've been following Liverpool fc from afar (Scotland) for over 30 years now. When growing up most kids my age 2nd teams were either the Reds or the Blues:p (usually the strange people) due to the winning factor and the strong Scottish connections of both clubs. The game today wasn't won AGAIN today because of that stupid zonal marking at set pieces, wrong tactics and wrong personel. Liverpool should be playing 2 up against any team in the world home or away.

I know Rafa has pretty much 100% backing of the supporters but looking in from the outside this man's tactics and signing policies are severely holding the club back. Speaking to people i work with and socialise with we all pretty much feel Rafa's signings and treatment of certain players is questionable to say the least. The signings of Arbeloa, Dossena, Lucas, Josemi and Pennant to name but a few aren't good enough to be anywhere near Anfield never mind the money he paid for these players, also paying somewhere in the region of £16 million for a striker he now plays as a wide midfielder. His treatment of Keane and Alonso (trying his damdest to get rid of him for Barry) is harsh to say the least.

The league was there for the taking this year and Rafa's negativity is holding us back.

[Emerald Red]

Hi, 1st time post on here. I've been following Liverpool fc from afar (Scotland) for over 30 years now. When growing up most kids my age 2nd teams were either the Reds or the Blues:p (usually the strange people) due to the winning factor and the strong Scottish connections of both clubs. The game today wasn't won AGAIN today because of that stupid zonal marking at set pieces, wrong tactics and wrong personel. Liverpool should be playing 2 up against any team in the world home or away.

I know Rafa has pretty much 100% backing of the supporters but looking in from the outside this man's tactics and signing policies are severely holding the club back. Speaking to people i work with and socialise with we all pretty much feel Rafa's signings and treatment of certain players is questionable to say the least. The signings of Arbeloa, Dossena, Lucas, Josemi and Pennant to name but a few aren't good enough to be anywhere near Anfield never mind the money he paid for these players, also paying somewhere in the region of £16 million for a striker he now plays as a wide midfielder. His treatment of Keane and Alonso (trying his damdest to get rid of him for Barry) is harsh to say the least.

The league was there for the taking this year and Rafa's negativity is holding us back.

Stick to watching the SPL.

[Pablo]

Harsh, especially from an Irishman!

[Liverpool442]

Hi, 1st time post on here. I've been following Liverpool fc from afar (Scotland) for over 30 years now. When growing up most kids my age 2nd teams were either the Reds or the Blues:p (usually the strange people) due to the winning factor and the strong Scottish connections of both clubs. The game today wasn't won AGAIN today because of that stupid zonal marking at set pieces, wrong tactics and wrong personel. Liverpool should be playing 2 up against any team in the world home or away.

I know Rafa has pretty much 100% backing of the supporters but looking in from the outside this man's tactics and signing policies are severely holding the club back. Speaking to people i work with and socialise with we all pretty much feel Rafa's signings and treatment of certain players is questionable to say the least. The signings of Arbeloa, Dossena, Lucas, Josemi and Pennant to name but a few aren't good enough to be anywhere near Anfield never mind the money he paid for these players, also paying somewhere in the region of £16 million for a striker he now plays as a wide midfielder. His treatment of Keane and Alonso (trying his damdest to get rid of him for Barry) is harsh to say the least.

The league was there for the taking this year and Rafa's negativity is holding us back.

Stick to watching the SPL.

Totally agree with all said by Pablo, I for my sins work in Manchester so have to argue football every day and to be honest it is becoming impossible to defend Rafa, and most MUFC supporters just see him as a joke now.