Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho admits Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Manchester United and Madrid feels more like a final than a last 16 meeting and believes the “the world will stop to watch this game.”
“United are on a fantastic run, better than ever this season,” he told reporters at his pre-match press conference. “They are in the FA Cup quarter-finals and have won the league already in March! We are also in good form in 2013 but the one million dollar question is what will make the difference tomorrow? Nobody knows.
“We come here after two wins [against Barcelona] but our feeling coming here would be the same if we’d have had two defeats. Of course, it is better to come here in a period when the players are happy and we have beaten our rivals twice, but I don’t really think the Barcelona results will have an impact on Tuesday.
“I think United will be very defensive when we have the ball and it will be the same from us when they have the ball. They are a strong attacking side and we’lll have to defend stoutly and concentrate when they have possession. We’re effectively behind in the tie so we will attack
“I have won, lost and drawn against Sir Alex,” added Mourinho when asked about his record against the Scot. “I have experienced everything against United. I’ve come here a lot of times with Chelsea, Porto, Inter… I’ve won some, I’ve drawn some and I’ve lost some. I don’t care about records. What I care about is that tomorrow is the kind of match in which anything can happen. Tomorrow the world will stop to watch this game. It feels more like a final.”
“Tomorrow’s game means the same [as back then], but I live the situation with a different approach and different emotions now,” he explained. “To win a big match is the same feeling now as nine years ago and to lose it is the same. The approach is completely different though. That match was my first season playing Champions League football, now I have played more than 100 matches and I can control my emotions. If I lose tomorrow I won’t cry and if I win I won’t run 100m again!”
