Mourinho says Chelsea thoughts can wait

Inter coach Jose Mourinho batted away all questions about his Champions League return to Chelsea in February, insisting yesterday that he is only focused on today's visit of Lazio.

Friday's Champions League second round draw pitted the Italian champions against their coach's former employers in a mouth-watering tie that will also see Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti make his return to the city he left in June after eight years at the Milan helm.

But despite the excitement caused by that draw, Mourinho played down the significance of his return to a club where he was idolised.

"I don't have anything in particular to say because the game is more than two months away," he said.

"We're talking about my ex team, my ex players, my ex fans, my ex stadium, but that's exactly it, they're all exes and as a professional I'll be treating the second round match the same regardless of whether it's against Manchester United, Chelsea or any other team.

"Right now I want my team to concentrate on the Lazio match before the break, on the winter break itself, on the Italian Cup and then when it comes to Chelsea so be it."

Mourinho is wary of a Lazio team that although just three points above the relegation zone has already beaten Inter once this season in the Italian Super Cup in China, although that was a minor miracle in a game totally dominated by the champions.

"If we play the same great match we did in Beijing in August in the Super Cup then we'll win because normally when you play very, very well, you win," said the Portuguese.

"We did that in Beijing but we lost, which can happen in football. Lazio are a team that are much better than the points they have in the table."