Saturday, February 18, 2006
Kezman backs Mourinho to plot Barca's downfall.
By Mark Elkington.
MADRID, (Reuters) - Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman expects Jose Mourinho's mind games and meticulous planning to give them the edge over Barcelona in their Champions League last 16 tie next week.
"Mourinho is the greatest coach I've ever met," Kezman told Reuters. "He's a very strong tactician. He has a team of seven people who work with him and he prepares for games so well it's incredible.
"I think Chelsea will win because they play a different kind of game to Barcelona, more varied, which makes them very difficult to beat."
The Serbia & Montenegro international, who left Stamford Bridge to join Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid, praised his former boss despite not having had the most comfortable of relationships with him in his year in England.
"With the media he is like an actor sometimes, from a good film not a poor one, but he's also a very difficult character," Kezman continued.
"We had a tough relationship. Our characters are similar and I was unhappy about being on the bench, but I learned a lot from him tactically and mentally. I really respect him."
Of his former team mates Kezman singled out captain John Terry as the principal character in Chelsea's dressing room.
"Terry is a great leader and a fantastic person on and off the pitch. He talks to everyone and pushes the whole side," he said."
Atletico's offer to take him to Spain last June, however, provided the former PSV Eindhoven player with the perfect chance to get his career back on track.
ROUGH RIDE
"English football is unique. It is more about fighting spirit and kick and rush. In Spain and Holland they like to play more, hold possession and play a tactical game which suits me better.
"I didn't like living in London, either. The city is so big and crowded, and it is always raining. After about three months there I decided I wanted to leave. My family was also very unhappy and my wife spent most of the time in Serbia.
"But it was a fantastic experience in England with the biggest club in the world at present.
"Now my family and I are very happy in Spain. We love the people, the city, the weather, and the way of life here. Unlike England and Holland everyone is very open and friendly here, more like my home country."
Although pleased with his change to the Spanish capital he admits it has been a rough ride in his first season.
Reserve team coach Pepe Murcia stepped up to replace Carlos Bianchi last month after a run of poor results and the change has galvanised a side that was struggling.
They have now won four Primera Liga games on the trot to move up to ninth in the table, six points off the European places.
"The new coach is very ambitious and works more on the tactics. He makes everything a lot more fun and talks to us a lot more. Bianchi didn't do that. Maybe football is different in Argentina," Kezman said.
"I have scored seven goals in about 17 games so am pleased with my work so far. I would like to stay here to the end of my football career and play in Europe with Atletico. The club and the people deserve it."
SPANISH BECKHAM
Hailed as one of Atletico's star signings last summer he was never likely to challenge Spain striker Fernando Torres in the popularity stakes at the Vicente Calderon.
The 21-year-old former youth teamer has been the club's leading scorer for the last three seasons.
"Torres is a great guy and a great talent. He's still very young but everyone is talking about him and he's very expensive," Kezman said.
"He's great to play with, very quick and very strong, which gives me space. We play well together and are good friends off the pitch as well."
With Chelsea reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in Torres, Kezman had words of warning for his colleague if he considered swapping the Calderon for Stamford Bridge.
"He would have to be prepared to sit on the bench sometimes, and to play in a rotation system," he said. "Mourinho treats everyone the same.
"You have to be a bit special but without an ego. In Spain Torres is a big star like David Beckham is in England. So maybe it would be difficult for him.
"He always asks me about English football, the different clubs and so on, but if a big offer came in from Chelsea then he would have to bare this in mind."
MADRID, (Reuters) - Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman expects Jose Mourinho's mind games and meticulous planning to give them the edge over Barcelona in their Champions League last 16 tie next week.
"Mourinho is the greatest coach I've ever met," Kezman told Reuters. "He's a very strong tactician. He has a team of seven people who work with him and he prepares for games so well it's incredible.
"I think Chelsea will win because they play a different kind of game to Barcelona, more varied, which makes them very difficult to beat."
The Serbia & Montenegro international, who left Stamford Bridge to join Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid, praised his former boss despite not having had the most comfortable of relationships with him in his year in England.
"With the media he is like an actor sometimes, from a good film not a poor one, but he's also a very difficult character," Kezman continued.
"We had a tough relationship. Our characters are similar and I was unhappy about being on the bench, but I learned a lot from him tactically and mentally. I really respect him."
Of his former team mates Kezman singled out captain John Terry as the principal character in Chelsea's dressing room.
"Terry is a great leader and a fantastic person on and off the pitch. He talks to everyone and pushes the whole side," he said."
Atletico's offer to take him to Spain last June, however, provided the former PSV Eindhoven player with the perfect chance to get his career back on track.
ROUGH RIDE
"English football is unique. It is more about fighting spirit and kick and rush. In Spain and Holland they like to play more, hold possession and play a tactical game which suits me better.
"I didn't like living in London, either. The city is so big and crowded, and it is always raining. After about three months there I decided I wanted to leave. My family was also very unhappy and my wife spent most of the time in Serbia.
"But it was a fantastic experience in England with the biggest club in the world at present.
"Now my family and I are very happy in Spain. We love the people, the city, the weather, and the way of life here. Unlike England and Holland everyone is very open and friendly here, more like my home country."
Although pleased with his change to the Spanish capital he admits it has been a rough ride in his first season.
Reserve team coach Pepe Murcia stepped up to replace Carlos Bianchi last month after a run of poor results and the change has galvanised a side that was struggling.
They have now won four Primera Liga games on the trot to move up to ninth in the table, six points off the European places.
"The new coach is very ambitious and works more on the tactics. He makes everything a lot more fun and talks to us a lot more. Bianchi didn't do that. Maybe football is different in Argentina," Kezman said.
"I have scored seven goals in about 17 games so am pleased with my work so far. I would like to stay here to the end of my football career and play in Europe with Atletico. The club and the people deserve it."
SPANISH BECKHAM
Hailed as one of Atletico's star signings last summer he was never likely to challenge Spain striker Fernando Torres in the popularity stakes at the Vicente Calderon.
The 21-year-old former youth teamer has been the club's leading scorer for the last three seasons.
"Torres is a great guy and a great talent. He's still very young but everyone is talking about him and he's very expensive," Kezman said.
"He's great to play with, very quick and very strong, which gives me space. We play well together and are good friends off the pitch as well."
With Chelsea reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in Torres, Kezman had words of warning for his colleague if he considered swapping the Calderon for Stamford Bridge.
"He would have to be prepared to sit on the bench sometimes, and to play in a rotation system," he said. "Mourinho treats everyone the same.
"You have to be a bit special but without an ego. In Spain Torres is a big star like David Beckham is in England. So maybe it would be difficult for him.
"He always asks me about English football, the different clubs and so on, but if a big offer came in from Chelsea then he would have to bare this in mind."
