Mourinho not considering rotation as team finds form

After taking a look at the pitch at the Gelredome, the Portuguese was strident in his criticism of the quality of the playing surface that will welcome both sets of players on Thursday night.

Here’s what else Mourinho had to say…

Is there more confidence in the camp now, after going seven games unbeaten in the league?

“I hope so, yes. We’ve gone seven games in a row now in Serie A without suffering a defeat. In the last game [the 1-0 win over Atalanta] the side had the right attitude from the very first minute; every single player was focused.

“That sort of attitude is very important once you reach the knockout phase of a competition like we are now. Right now every detail is important, you could go out of the competition at any moment. But the team is in good shape, only Leonardo Spinazzola is not available. Other than that we have everyone.

“But, I must say, it’s a surprise for me to be coming to the Netherlands and for the first time to be playing on a pitch that isn’t for football. I’ve been coming to this country for more than 20 years and there have always been great pitches. I don’t know what has happened here though; it will be very difficult to play on, I don’t really know how you can play on it.

“But, nevertheless, we’ve come here to get a result and to get through to the quarter-finals.”

Are you thinking about making changes to the side tomorrow?

“I will back those who have been working hard. And the thing that you feel at the moment, around the squad, is that everyone is working hard and they are all in good form. In the last game we made five substitutions – why did we make five? Because we have the quality to do it.

“Right now the squad is in good shape and we have clear targets. Before we had three, now we have two. We don’t have the Coppa Italia anymore but in the league we still want to finish as high as we can.

“Every single game can be decisive for us. I am pleased with the players at the moment, so there won’t be rotation. We will try and manage one or two but we want to put out a really strong side and think about having five changes we can use.”

You’ve mentioned the state of the pitch…

“Yes, why is it like that?”

I don’t know, maybe there was a concert here recently. But, beyond that, what is your opinion of Dutch football?

“If I had to speak about Dutch football we could be here talking for hours. So I will be quick about it. I started with Louis van Gaal, an amazing coach, and as far as he goes there is nothing else to add beyond expressing my gratitude to him.

“Dutch football is very attacking, very fearless in its approach, but looking at the conditions of the pitch here … I don’t know, maybe things are changing.”