KAZAN - "I respect Rubin and I have faith in Inter." That was the message of José Mourinho in today's press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League Group F Matchday 2 clash at the Tsentralnyi Stadium.

The city of Kazan in the Tatarstan Republic of Russia is buzzing with enthusiasm as the locals await with anticipation tomorrow night's match against the Nerazzurri. "I completely understand what this match means for the whole city," said Mourinho. "It's a dream that will come true tomorrow night. These people, who have my respect, have seen great Champions League matches many times on television and now they will be able to see their team on the pitch. Our opponents will certainly have superior motivations. The climate will be cold, but the heart of the match will be very hot."

Mourinho is expecting no walkover against the Russian champions despite their poor form of late. He said: "I think it will be a very difficult match. We have studied Rubin very carefully and we won't let ourselves be affected by their recent performances in the championship. What is important is the team's display in Kiev, where they dominated the match for 75 minutes, losing only because football is a sport that sometimes reserves surprises through details.

"Our tactical attitude won't change and I'm expecting Rubin to play a very dynamic, fast and very well organised game. Our first objective is obviously to win. Objective number two is not to lose. The strategy of the group is in our hands. We have three matches - this one against Rubin and two against Dynamo Kiev, from which we have to get the maximum points to go to Barcelona and be in a good position to qualify without having to win the last game to go through."

Whenever Inter start a Champions League campaign there are always reminders that the club last lifted the trophy in the 1960s. "It's not my responsibility if Inter haven't won since 1965," said Mourinho. "My responsibility is that Inter didn't win the Champions League last year. We weren't up to the task in the qualifying group, but we qualified with two matches to spare. Then we found the defending champions, who could have got to the final again, and we were eliminated after an evenly balanced tie, and then two weeks ago we found the defending champions and we drew. It was a very important draw for us.

"If Inter play in the same way, with the same attitude and concentration shown in the games against Manchester United and Barcelona, we can certainly win this encounter with Rubin. But I repeat, we respect them a lot and we know they won't be an easy opponent."

Questions about Mourinho being nervous and not liking life in Italy were returned promptly to the sender. "Those who say I'm nervous don't know me. I live well and work well in Italy and at Inter. It's obvious that Inter can't be perfect now because we are a team under construction, and during this construction I had to do without Cambiasso before and then Thiago Motta and Sneijder, two of the players who are meant to change our midfield. This is clearly a difficulty but it's a temporary imperfection."

A Kazan journalist presented José Mourinho with a traditional hat at the start of the press conference. The Portuguese coach promised him a training top in exchange. "Unfortunately I don't have much time to breathe, so I don't have time to travel and see all the places I'd like to visit in the world. Unfortunately, like other cities, I can say that I know well the stadium, the hotel and the airport..."