Italians wine bill leaves bitter taste in China(2)
Asked why Lazio, playing on the same pitch and in the same searing heat that Mourinho had previously complained about, were able to win, the Portuguese rounded on her.
"After the first two questions, I know why Chinese football is so rubbish and why China has won gold medals in so many sports but not football, because the journalists are so unprofessional."
Mourinho later expanded on the shortcomings of the Chinese media after a question from state news agency Xinhua, saying he could only conclude that they did not "understand a thing".
The Chinese media responded by branding Mourinho arrogant and stories of other snubs and jibes circulated on the internet.
On Monday, Inter posted a statement on their Chinese language website (inter.sina.com.cn/) defending him against accusations that he would not meet China's national team coach.
"Jose Mourinho today firmly denied the reports that he refused to meet China's coach Gao Hongbo," it read.
"After Inter's training in the Olympic Sports Centre in the afternoon of Aug. 5, Gao met and talked to Mourinho... "
