clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

In Mourinho's Words: Pre-Game At CSKA Moscow, Champions League 2012

José Mourinho attended the media in Moscow (photo via Realmadrid.com)

With Real Madrid's expedition to Russia's capital, Coach José Mourinho and left back Fábio Coentrao answered the media's questions about tomorrow's Champions League game against CSKA Moscow. It is a tradition that the player who responds to the press starts the game, so Coentrao will more than likely be a starter tomorrow.

Our ambition, head and mentality have to be stronger than the cold weather and the artificial grass. We need to be strong to fight these conditions.

Mourinho didn't reveal Real Madrid's starting lineup, but he did confirm that he is not going to reserve any important player for the game.

I don't want to answer because my players don't know the lineup neither. We don't have Lass but we count with Xabi, Granero, Khedira and Nuri (who is coming little by little). We want to be in the quarterfinals with these men. The game is too important to joke about it.

Karim Benzema has been one of Real Madrid's most important players lately. Mourinho, however, was evasive in his response.

I don't want to go that way. He is playing very well for the team and he is also scoring goals like a striker. But I don't want to discuss about Ballon D'Or or any individual prices because now it is time to think about the team.

Mourinho also spoke about CSKA's skills.

This CSKA is very similar to the one I've faced in 2004, and that's good for them because they enjoyed a lot of time together. They lost Wagner Love but they do have Doumbia. They are a difficult team, we need to respect them.

CSKA defender Beretzuski said that Real Madrid is the best physical team in Europe. When a Russian journalist asked Mourinho for his reply, our coach laughed.

Let him stand besides Coentrao and let's see the difference.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Managing Madrid Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Real Madrid news from Managing Madrid