Moratti: Mourinho Is Wrong, Inter Can Aim For Champions League

Yesterday Inter coach Jose Mourinho held his first press conference, and as usual his words raised some eyebrows. According to the Portuguese coach, the Nerazzurri's current squad is not strong enough - or at least not as strong as some of the top sides in Europe.

He admitted that he wished more players had left, and he believes the team is still in need of reinforcements, despite the arrivals of Thiago Motta and Diego Milito from Genoa.

Inter president Massimo Moratti gave an interview to Sky Sport 24 in which he responded to some of Mourinho's claims, saying that the team have no alibis for not winning the Champions League.

"I know Mourinho, he likes to provoke fans and journalists," he said. "He creates a situation to charge himself and the team up, which is what he did in the press conference.

"I don't think we are that far away from the best teams in Europe. We will not need a miracle to perform better than last year in the European Cup. Everyone starts out with the intention to win, but with a lot of attention to avoid mistakes. It will be important not to make mistakes."

Asked if Inter have what it takes to win the Champions League, Moratti said: "Yes, I think it's within our reach so I don't want any alibis!"

On whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maicon, who were said to be on their way out of the club, are still motivated to play for Inter, he said: "Maicon isn't here yet, but I know his character, his desire, his physical and mental strength, so he will certainly continue to do well here, as he would have if he had joined another club because he is a serious professional with a lot of quality.

"I met Ibrahimovic just now. I like him so much as a person that I am convinced he wants to do even better this year. He is a very serious professional and he works very hard to make sure his club wins. He has shown it throughout these years and will continue to do so. He looked very happy in the group and so I don't see what the problem could be.

"I think he is absolutely not on the market, and he wasn't before, also because the only club who were spending, Real Madrid, needed players with different characteristics. Ibrahimovic is a part of Inter's plans both in the league and in the Champions League, where we expect him to explode because he is a mature player so it will be easier for him this time."

On transfer market kings Real Madrid, he said: "They are the only club who have spent big, they've bought the two most requested players [Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo], as well as [Karim] Benzema, and they might not be finished yet. Seeing all those players together will draw a lot of curiosity. We'll see whether they will gel immediately."

Finally, on alleged transfer targets Deco and Ricardo Carvalho, Moratti commented: "I did not point them out personally as objectives. I was told they were just two players who could join the club. Then the other objectives faded and only these two were left, but they will be difficult to reach, and at the moment it would not be a good deal for us."

Danilo Pochini, Goal.com