UCL: Mourinho hits back at tactics critics

Jose Mourinho has hit back at his critics
ahead of tonight's Champions League semi-
final with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea manager has vowed to stick to
his footballing principles as he bids to win the
European Cup with a third different club after
the 2004 triumph with Porto and 2010 win
with Inter Milan.
Standing in his way are Atletico after a
goalless first leg, with his former club Real
Madrid awaiting the victors in the May 24 final
in Lisbon after their stunning 5-0 aggregate
success over defending champions Bayern
Munich.
"In this moment, football is full of
philosophers, full of people that understand
much more than me," Mourinho said.
"The reality is always the reality. A team that
doesn't defend well, doesn't have many
chances to win.
"A team that doesn't score a lot of goals, if (it)
concedes lots of goals, it's completely in
trouble. A team without balance is not a team.
"When Atletico have the ball we have to
defend; when we have the ball we have to
attack.
"When they have the ball we have to try to
stop them scoring; when we have the ball we
have to try to score.
"This is the football that I know. (When the)
opponent has the ball you have to work
defensively, you have to be organised.
"You have the ball you have to try to play
according to the qualities of your players and
your opponent.
"In this moment - depending on the coach and
the club - the critics speak.
"If your opponents are very fast on the counter
and want space behind your defensive line, if
you give them that space you are stupid."
Mourinho has confirmed John Terry will
captain Chelsea against Atletico and also
stated that Eden Hazard is in contention to
play for the first time since suffering a calf
injury in the quarter-final second leg victory
over Paris Saint-Germain on April 8.
"He is ready," said Mourinho of the Belgium
international. "It's my option whether he starts
or not, but he is ready."
However, Petr Cech will not be involved due to
a shoulder injury after he trained on Tuesday
alongside injured personnel, suspended
players and those fully fit to show solidarity,
added the Chelsea boss.
"Everybody's ready and he's ready and that's
the message we wanted to give," he said.
"Everybody was on the pitch.
"It's a very important match for our group.
Everybody's together, everybody wants to
help, everybody wants to play.
"His condition doesn't allow him to play, but
the message is from him and the group."
Mourinho expects a difficult tie, with Chelsea's
home advantage reduced by the fact they
failed to score an away goal in Madrid last
week.
"They are a good side. They are not a
counter-attack side. They are a good side.
They defend well, they score goals. They win
matches. It's fair to say they are a very good
team," he added.
"Against PSG we were in a position where we
had nothing to lose and no one expected us to
turn the result around. This is different.
"A draw with goals is good for them and not
us, so you cannot say who has the advantage.
To play at home is to play at home, but to
have the advantage of away goals, it is very
balanced.
"We have to enjoy and let's see if we go to
Lisbon or not. I will go for sure in the summer,
but let's see if we can go together."
Culled from Skysports