ROME: Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez has hit back at his predecessor Jose Mourinho`s jibes in a video-chat with the club`s fans.

Mourinho has previously claimed that Benitez, the former Liverpool and Valencia boss, will have an easy job having inherited his own treble-winning team.

But Benitez retorted that the new Real Madrid coach also took over a winning side when he arrived in Italy.

Inter had won three straight titles when Mourinho joined.

"First of all I`m surprised that Mourinho has spoken because normally he doesn`t speak, he talks about nothing," Benitez said jokingly about his outspoken rival.

"He`s not here any more but if everything was so perfect then why did he leave? Why did he choose to join another team? That was his decision.

"It`s clear to everyone that this is a good team and it was too when he arrived at Inter.

"I`m very happy and don`t like talking about these things. I think he speaks from outside, but it`s better for us to concentrate on the work we must do for Inter.”

BDST: 1802HRS, August 26, 2010