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| | Jose snubs Adri and Quaresma |
Friday 14 November, 2008 |
| Jose Mourinho has left Adriano and Ricardo Quaresma out of his squad to face Palermo tomorrow, but insists he has no problem with L'Imperatore.
Inter have been joined at the top of Serie A by Juventus after the Old Lady's win over Genoa, but they have played one fewer game.
The Nerazzurri travel to Sicily without Brazilian hitman Adriano, who missed training in the week after phoning in sick.
“Without the flu, Adriano would have played,” Mourinho explained. “I wasn't angry that he had a fever on Tuesday.
“My personal relationship with him is good. Professionally he is the same as the others and he needs to train every day and turn up on time.
“He didn't train on Tuesday and on Wednesday he trained on his own, so Thursday was the first session with the rest of the group. He was 100 per cent today, but that isn't enough for me.”
Portuguese summer signing Quaresma is struggling to settle in Italy and has also been left out of Mourinho's squad.
“He is a player with great potential and he still has that,” the Special One insisted.
“However, Amantino Mancini had a great week of work and he deserves to return.
“Victor Obinna brought intensity against Udinese and he has also earned his place in the squad.
“We have a very strong group of offensive players and not everyone can be selected.
“I have given Quaresma three days without football to go and see his family in Portugal, but he will be all the more important when Mancini, Obinna and Mario Balotelli are on international duty.
“Sulley Muntari will be back tomorrow and it will be Muntari, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and nine others.”
Despite his spat with Claudio Ranieri earlier in his reign, Mourinho stressed his respect for the Juve boss with the Derby d'Italia looming in Week 13.
“Ranieri isn't like me, but I respect him as a Coach,” he said. “We are level on points at the moment, but I don't think we will have by the end of tomorrow.
“I didn't see Juventus-Genoa but I will have time to watch it next week. I can only say that I would rather face the Bianconeri after seven wins than seven defeats.”
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L'Imperatore calls in sick
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