Last night, the city of magnificent Madrid belonged to the magic that is Jose Mourinho. And it probably will for a good time to come, if the rumours are to be believed that he is destined for future management at the Bernabeau.
His Inter Milan side coasted to a solid and impressive 2-0 success in the UEFA Champions League final, against a limp Bayern Munich side. Inter didn’t need to be spectacular to seal their success, but their strengths in Jose’s tactical gameplay saw him overcome his mentor at Barcelona at the beginning of the century, Louis van Gaal. Argentine Diego Milito, who has scored thirty goals in Serie A this season was the natural difference between the two sides, who two quality finishes that will have an on looking Diego Maradona licking his lips in anticipation with the World Cup just three weeks later. Milito’s deadly finishing will have the likes of Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero worried over a first-team place ahead of the Argies opening group game against Nigeria on June 12th.
After a bright opening, Inter faded badly, but against the run of play, took the crucial advantage ten minutes before half-time. Julio Cesar’s hopeful kick up field found Milito, who combined brilliantly with the Inter playmaker, Wesley Snejider. An interchange of passes followed, and Milito left his national countryman Martin Demichellis for dead, before coolly dispatching his effort past the advancing Hans-Jorg Butt. After the break, Bayern attempted to get back into the game and their young German striker Thomas Muller came close, thwarted by the excellent Cesar, whose goalkeeping seems to get better with every passing match. With twenty minutes to go and the dynamic Miroslav Klose on the pitch, Munich was ready to throw everything at the Italian defence, notably without a single Italian in the starting eleven. However, just as they attempted this tactic, Inter produced another of those traditional breakaways, sealing the match in clinical fashion.
Snejider was fouled in the build-up, but English referee Howard Webb, who had a faultless game played on and the ball eventually reached Milito, who once again had the firm measure of Demichellis and his centre-back partner, Daniel Van Buyten. Once again, his finish was emphatic, leaving Butt without a hope and Bayern without a prayer. Van Gaal’s side looked inept of ideas, with Franck Ribery suspended and Arjen Robben man-marked by the experienced duo of Christian Chivu and Javier Zanetti.
So, it was Mourinho’s night as he wrapped up a historic treble for Inter and their first European Cup in over forty years. Time and again, they have flattered to deceive in this competition, as the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have brushed them aside with apparent ease. It took the ‘Special One’ to unlock the cherished grail as he became only the third coach to win the European Cup with two different clubs. Both Chelsea and Barcelona tumbled out to the Italians, who have firmly established themselves as a real leading powerhouse in European football. However, whether the magic that Mourinho has will be passed onto his successor remains to be seen. Jose Mourinho’s mission was for Inter Milan to become Champions of Europe, and this he had achieved. Next destination surely is to tackle Barcelona’s dominance of La Liga with the underachieving stars that are Real Madrid.
No comments:
Post a Comment