After being paired with Manchester United in the last 16 of the
Champions League, Inter Milan’s Jose Mourinho has claimed that
striker Wayne Rooney should be banned.
Rooney was embroiled in controversy in United’s last game of the
tournament when he appeared to stamp on AaB Alborg defender Kasper
Risgard.
The incident was subsequently investigated by UEFA who refused
to take the incident any further.
Yet, according to The Sun, Mourinho clearly feels
Rooney should have faced a punishment and compared the incident to
one he faced when manager of Chelsea.
In the Blues’ Champions League campaign of 2005, midfielder
Michael Essien was hit with a suspension after an incident with
Dietmar Hamann and was forced to miss Chelsea’s next games against
Barcelona.
“When I was with Chelsea something really extraordinary happened
when through TV evidence Essien was suspended for three games and
didn’t play our two games against Barcelona,” explained Mourinho
before adding, “The same thing didn’t happen last week with Rooney,
so he will be available to play against us in the knockout
stage. But I accept all this which is a consequence of the
rules.”
Despite this the Portuguese claimed he is happy with the draw
and claimed he had wanted to face United. He said: “How fascinating
to play against Manchester United, against the champions. It will
be beautiful in the second leg in a fantastic stadium but so will
it be in the first game at our place, at the San Siro which will be
packed.
Yes, I wanted United because I wanted to face the best. They’re
the champions of Europe and in two days will have the chance to be
champions of the world.”
