:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9065205/163089066.0.jpg)
It wasn't an aggresive press conference. Both Jose Mourinho and Xabi Alonso were faimiliar with the football-related questions that the British journalists ask, and the Spanish representatives from Marca, As or Cadena SER decided this time that it was better to ask Mourinho about the match.
Mourinho answered questions about how the team is approaching this match after the two wins against Barcelona and said the following:
The mentaility of our team would be the same even after two defeats against Barcelona. We're talking about three different competitions. The 1-3 win left us in the Copa del Rey Final, and it was good to also win 2-1 even though we know we can't win La Liga. We're looking forward to the game.
Manchester United players, Sir Alex Ferguson and the British press all have been praising Cristiano Ronaldo lately. This is what Mourinho thinks about that:
He's going to have a fantastic reception, he deserves it. I was here when he was emerging in Manchester United and I know he deserves those kinds of compliments.
Manchester United's good defense prevented Madrid from playing comfortably in the second half at the Bernabéu. Mourinho expects this to be a trend on Tuesday:
I think they're going to play defensively without the ball and offensively with it, and we will do the same even though they have an small advantage. We need to defend well because they're a strong attacking side.
Jose Mourinho also confirmed that everyone's fit to play the game with the exception of Iker Casillas. On the other hand, Xabi Alonso didn't leave any big headlines for the press to report, but he still said that the roster is only focused on the match.
We're not worried about those kinds of things [on Mourinho leaving the club if the tie doesn't go well]. We're only focused about the match and we're looking forward to play. Cristiano Ronaldo is too, he's a very important player but we also have some other good threats that could harm Manchester United. I, as a former Liverpool player, have an special motivation everytime I come back to England, and being Manchester so close to Liverpool and knowing how big the rivalry between United and Liverpool is, it gives me a little extra motivation. We're ready.