José Mourinho is not sure Xabi Alonso gets inspiration from Pep Guardiola and is pessimistic regarding Paulo Dybala’s chances to start against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.
The Giallorossi will host the Bundesliga side at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final. The Germans are coached by Mourinho’s ex-player Xabi Alonso.
Asked whether he thinks the former Spain international gets more inspiration from Guardiola than from him, Mourinho replied: “I haven’t seen him for a long time. We’ve always had a fantastic rapport, more than between a coach and a player. Playing against him or Simone [Inzaghi] last week changes nothing. If I am not wrong, he [Xabi] was coached by Benitez, Ancelotti, Guardiola, me and others.
“I think it’s normal that he takes more inspiration from some coaches more than others. Bayer are the best counter-attacking team I’ve seen, but if he prefers another style it’s another story. Surely, he is very pragmatic. He uses the style that suits his players more, five or six could of them could run the 100m with Marcel Jacobs at the Olympics.”
Paulo Dybala and Gini Wijnaldum trained with the team on Wednesday, but they are unlikely to start on Thursday, claimed Mourinho.
“I don’t know let’s see tomorrow. The feeling today is no,” he said.
“We won’t give the game away to Bayer. We’ll put all we have on the pitch, quality and desire. We’ll try to get a result which will allow us to reach the final after the return leg,” he continued.
“There are 18 clubs in the Bundesliga and this changes something. We have recently played a mid-week round which did not allow us to move the following match to Friday. At this moment, having one extra day to prepare makes the difference.
“The other thing they have is options: Hudson-Odoi and Schick are injured, but it’s not a problem for them. For us, every player we miss due to an injury is a problem. We don’t have 25 players on the same level and I am not saying this against the club. Solbakken was not included in the UEFA list due to FFP regulations. I am not accusing anyone. Inter can play with Lautaro and Dzeko [against Milan] after starting Lukaku and Correa against us.
“We are ready the problem is that in Italy 15 players can go on the bench, in Europe only 12 and everyone wants to be involved. Smalling wants to go on the bench like Karsdorp and El Shaarawy. We are ready on an emotional level, so players will go home today and return tomorrow. We don’t need meetings and motivation. We’ve done our job. Smalling is perfect to go on the bench. We’ll see if he can start in the return leg. If we go to Budapest he will surely be with us.”
Il Corriere dello Sport reported last week that Mourinho had inspired Roma U19’s win over Fiorentina on Sunday with a dressing speech at halftime, but the Portuguese tactician insisted it was a lie.
“It was said that I motivated Primavera players in the dressing room, but this was a lie and a lack of respect for their coach. I was in the dressing room, but their assistant coach did his job. I was there to hear and I didn’t even say a word.”
The Portuguese coach had spoken to Sky Sport Italia ahead of his pre-match press conference on Wednesday confirming that Dybala is unlikely to start tomorrow and insisting that he has never spoken to PSG.