I have a lot of problems with the current format of the UCL – namely that it’s not a tournament of champions anymore – but there isn’t much doubt that this is the marquee match up of the first midweek culling.

More after the jump –

Club links

These two clubs have a lot of links to each other in addition to the most recent transfer window. Several players and coaches have made the jump from one club to the other.

Going a ways back, Luis Suarez spent 6 years with Barcelona winning La Liga 2 times and the Inter City Fairs Cup (now the Europa Cup) 1 time. Suarez was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1960 right before he left Barcelona for Inter. With Inter Luis won 3 Serie A titles and back to back European Cups (now the Champions League) and 2 Intercontinental Cups (now the World Club Cup).

Helenio Herrera , otherwise known as HH, was a manager at both clubs. Like Suarez, HH was at Barcelona first, from 1958-1960 winning 2 La Liga titles and 2 Inter City Fairs Cup. HH moved on to Inter and stayed from 1960 to 1968 where he won 3 Serie A titles and back to back European and Intercontinental Cups.

A little closer to recent events, Luis Figo played for Barcelona and Inter. Figo, one of the absolute greats of all time, played at Barcelona from 1995-2000 instead of going to Juventus or Parma– where he had signed contracts with both clubs and was banned from signing for either – during the same transfer window. Figo won a Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup and 2 La Liga titles. Figo signed with Inter in the twilight of his career in 2005 and played until he retired last season. He won 4 Serie A titles while here.

Of course, a much younger version of Jose Mourinho spent time at Barcelona as an interpreter for their English manager, Bobby Robson in 1995. He stayed on for the next few years and has always proclaimed that he would like to go back to the club as he felt very comfortable there. This is of course Mourinho’s second year at Inter, and he said that the club is halfway in transition from being Mancini’s team to becoming his own.

Ricardo Quaresma played for Barcelona for a season when he was 20 years old in 2003. He made about 20 apps and scored only 1 goal before he injured his foot.

Thiago Motta showed a lot of promise but found limited playing time in a very crowded Barcelona midfield from 1999 though 2006. Thiago had suffered several injury setbacks and was subsequently shipped off to Madrid and from there he spent a year at Genoa until landing in Milan.

Maxwell came to Inter from Ajax in 2006 and immediately took over the left fullback spot. However, recently he has seen limited playing time as both Chivu and Santon have proven to be better at playing defence and we have better options at midfield. A skilled player, but perhaps not too mentally strong.

Lastly of course, we have the Ibra and Eto’o switch which has everyone excited for this most recent game.

Match Background

According to UEFA.com, Inter have lost just one of 15 home matches against Spanish clubs. The Nerazzurri achieved the first of their two European Cup successes by defeating Real Madrid CF 3-1 in the 1964 final in Vienna.

This is Barcelona’s sixth trip to San Siro and their record there is W2 D1 L2. Barça beat Milan 1-0 on their last visit in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League semi-final, Ludovic Giuly’s 57th-minute strike the only goal of the tie.

Barcelona lifted the European Cup for the first time after beating Italy’s UC Sampdoria 1-0 in the 1992 final at Wembley. They lost the 1994 final 4-0 to Milan.

Barcelona are aiming to become the first team to defend the European crown since AC Milan in 1989/90. Inter are seeking a first European Champion Clubs’ Cup since back-to-back wins in 1964 and 1965.

Last Meeting

In the sides’ first meeting Barcelona were convincing 3-0 winners in the UEFA Champions League second group stage at the Camp Nou on 26 February 2002. Goals from Javier Saviola, Phillip Cocu and Patrick Kluivert secured an eleventh successive victory, still a competition record.

The return the following week produced a goalless draw and both teams progressed to the quarter-finals, Barcelona as group winners. Yet Inter went further that season, reaching the last four.

Inter’s Javier Zanetti and Barcelona pair Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernández played in both matches, with Andrés Iniesta an unused substitute at San Siro.

Inter

Mourinho named his squad of 22 for this game today:
Goalkeepers: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar, 21 Paolo Orlandoni.
Defenders: 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Lucio, 13 Maicon, 25 Walter Samuel, 26 Cristian Chivu, 39 Davide Santon.
Midfielders: 5 Dejan Stankovic, 7 Ricardo Quaresma, 8 Thiago Motta, 10 Wesley Sneijder, 11 Sulley Muntari, 14 Patrick Vieira, 15 René Krhin, 19 Esteban Cambiasso.
Strikers: 9 Samuel Eto’o, 18 David Suazo, 22 Diego Milito, 45 Mario Balotelli.

I would anticipate the 4312 formation. Cambiasso is out and Deki is a question mark. If were up to me the team would look like this:
12 Julio Cesar
13 Maicon 6 Lucio 25 Samuel 39 Santon
4 J. Zanetti 8 Motta 11 Muntari
10 Schmujcko
22 Milito 9 Eto’o

But I think that the team will end up looking like this:
12 Julio Cesar
13 Maicon 6 Lucio 25 Samuel 26 Chivu
4 J. Zanetti 5 Stankovic 8 Thiago Motta
10 Schmujcko
22 Milito 9 Eto’o

The tactics are frighteningly simple.

First we must find a way to pressure the Barcelona defence. That’s it. Full stop. We’re not going to stop Messi. We’re not going to stop Ibra. We have to somehow limit their midfield possession and make their midfielders go backwards and pressure the back line. Easier said than done, but there it is.

Second we have to play the width. If Barcelona has an overall team weakness it’s making them play defence near the sidelines. Messi and Henry are useless defensively, the midfielders – like ours – play pinched in and the fullbacks are really average going backwards. Maicon and, I hope, Santon, need to take advantage of the space that they are likely to encounter.

Third we must be physical. There are a lot of small, quick, skillful players on the Barcelona team. We need to gain a tactical advantage and put it in their minds that we will be closing down quickly on them. We need to make them a little jumpy. In the words of Al Davis in my best Brooklyn accent, “Messi must go down, and he must go down hard.”

Lastly, we need to score. Chelsea showed the error of playing the 9-1 formation. Barca is going to score 1. It’s best that we all come to terms with that fact now. We need to score.

Team Quotes:

Javier Zanetti

“We want to be protagonists in the Champions League until the end,” said a confident Javier Zanetti in today’s press conference ahead of tomorrow’s big match against Barcelona.
“It’s a good thing to meet Barcelona in the first match,” continued the Inter captain. It’s important to start against a great team. We can check our form. This match can tell us a lot and we are making our best preparations for it.”

At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tomorrow night Zanetti will face his countryman and national team companion Lionel Messi. “He is a fantastic player. We talked about this match when we were with the national team and he is very motivated, but Barcelona are not just Messi so we will have to be careful,” said Zanetti. “It’s important for Inter to play its game and we are preparing for it so we don’t concede spaces to their men who are capable of making the difference.”

If Barcelona are not just Messi, Inter were not only Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “I don’t know how the fans will welcome him,” admitted the Inter captain. “He did very well when he was here with us and we won a lot together. He was part of the team and, as always, the team won thanks to the work of everybody. Now we have Samuel Eto’o who is adapting very well and he has already scored some important goals.”

Mourinho

He said: “I don’t want to think that Barcelona are favourites, but we can’t hide the fact that they have been playing together for a long time. They have two new players while we have five, some of whom arrived two months ago, or a month ago, or even two weeks ago. We are still ‘under construction’.

“Barcelona is a school of football which has had the same philosophy for many years. We want to play in a different way and we want to become a school of football, with our characteristics, suited to both Italian and European football. Those who write that we have to win at all costs, don’t understand anything about football. There are teams like Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United who remain same, and there are others like Inter, Real Madrid who still have to be built.”

Inevitably, the Inter coach was asked about his former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his new one Samuel Eto’o. “On Ibra I will say the same things I said after the match with Parma. I’m fond of him, I hope he scores and scores, but I can’t wish him anything positive for tomorrow, and I can imagine that Barcelona will say the same thing about Eto’o. The Ibra transfer was the ideal deal that made everyone happy: Ibra, Guardiola, me and Eto’o. The club has done a great job on the transfer market. With fifty million euros for Ibra we got Milito, Lucio, Thiago Motta, Sneijder and Eto’o, who are all starters tomorrow.

“As for Samuel, he’s not a kid. He’s a professional and I don’t think he has any special motivations for tomorrow’s match. He is always motivated, he’s born to win and he left Barcelona without any negative feelings. As for the match, it’s not a knockout match or a question of life or death. It’s one of six group games.”

Mourinho left journalists open-mouthed by announcing his starting eleven to face Barcelona. “Julio Cesar; Maicon, Samuel, Lucio and Chivu; Stankovic or Muntari, Zanetti, Sneijder and Motta. Milito and Eto’o.

Barcelona

Near as I can tell Guardiola has taken 19 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers with him to Milan:
Goalkeepers: Valdes, Pinto
Defenders: Alves, Pique, Marquez, Puyol, Gabriel Milito, Maxwell, Chygrynskiy, Abidal
Midfielders: Xavi, Iniesta, Keita, Toure, Busquets
Forwards: Ibrahimovic, Messi, Krkic, Henry, Pedro, Suarez

My best guess at a formation is a modified 433 with Messi playing withdrawn a bit to the point of making it look a lot like a 41212 with the middle rhombus tight:

Valdés
Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Maxwell
Xavi, Toure, Iniesta
Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry

Team Quotes:

Xavi

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has praised the impact made by new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Sweden international has scored twice since joining Barca from Inter Milan over the summer in a swap deal which involved Samuel Eto’o going the opposite way. But it is in the dressing room where Ibrahimovic has made the biggest impact, according to Spain midfielder Xavi.
He said: ”He is beginning an adventure that will last for five years. ‘He has surprised me because he jokes a lot when I thought he would be more serious.
”Everyone said he was awkward but that is not the case. He is very likeable, he has adapted very well.”

Ibrahimovic makes a swift return to Inter this week as the two European giants lock horns in the Champions League. It will also see Inter coach and former Barca backroom staff member Jose Mourinho come up against his old employers and Xavi sees many similarities between the Portuguese and current Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

He added: ”I had three years with him (Mourinho) when he was an assistant to (Louis) Van Gaal and I learnt a lot. He is like Guardiola in that they are both obsessed by work.
”Perhaps Mourinho is more focused on defence while Pep is more romantic and wants to play well besides winning.”

Conclusion

This game is still only worth 3 points to the winner no matter what happens. It’s important to remember that winning or losing this game doesn’t mean that all the other competitions that we are involved in are over.

But make no mistake that both sides want this win. There is a certain amount of pride for Barcelona to continue to be the Champions and the home office in Milan definitely want some proof that the summer mercato was worth all the grief.

Besides, Moratti desperately wants to bring Inter back to the glory of his father’s reign. That means big eared trophies… or at least getting close enough to think about air fare to Spain in May.

In order to advance out the group stage we will need 8 points minimum. If we win at home and draw away against the Russian and Ukrainian teams that’s 8 points. If we want to have some elbow room we need to get a point or two against Barcelona. History says that we will have a better chance at home than at any other time.

Where to Watch

FSC: Watch it taped at 7:00pm EST
Myp2p.eu
Atdhe.net

FORZA INTER

Roster rotation.

No matter what anyone says or how down Milan look, The Derby is a big game. Barcelona, even in a group stage game, is a big game. Sandwiched in between is Parma… not really a big game – all due respect to Parma. They aren’t a rival and a newly promoted team just might provide us the opportunity we need to rest and recuperate.

Let’s face it; one could almost understand the big stars to take a break on this one. And with a big game right after and in some cases long flights just before, the “B” team could get a run out.

So first I want to talk about the advantages and the disadvantages to rotating the roster and then I want to talk about whom goes where in the rotated squad.

There are some advantages to rotating the roster. We get to rest some guys from long flights and 2 games in a week international break. Granted we are only talking about resting those that might actually see action against Barcelona, so some guys who played 2 games this week are going to add a 3rd.

There is also a quantity of focus. A weeks worth of concentrating and studying up on Barca against 3 or 4 days may matter in the final equation. Plus there is a question of motivation. Milito may be focused for any game, any time, but can we say the same thing about others? How about guys like Santon, Quaresma or Mancini, who are desperate to prove that they deserve first team spots. Think that they might be motivated more than someone who sees Parma as an annoyance before the real game midweek?

The downside to roster rotation is that the “B” team is the “B” team for a reason. They aren’t as good as the “A” team – but then who is, especially when you have a leader named Hannibal, the goofball from Star Trek and Mr. T around. A team like Parma isn’t a pushover, even though they are just promoted. It may also be extra motivation for them since we were the ones that sent them down 2 seasons ago. Like Bari two weeks ago, this is their Champions League final. This is about as big as it gets for them for the whole season and they are going to be up for it. Even if they don’t think that they are going to win, they are definitely going to make sure that they aren’t embarrassed.

This isn’t England or Spain. Teams ranked 10-20 aren’t pushovers. Unlike teams in those leagues, Parma will have a good solid strategy and tactics to try and exploit mistakes – the best teams make them – or to help stay alive for as long as possible.

Like Bari did.

Personally, I see squad rotation as a relatively good thing, if one can say something good about fielding a lower talent squad on purpose. If we can pull it off, we need to get some playing time to the young guys sometime and I personally would like us to compete for the Coppa Italia, no matter how insignificant a trophy it is. Plus, look at what some self serving scum is already trying to put in our young players’ heads – and it’s only the second game of the season that has just gone. Players have to play, even Vieira. Well, sometimes, for very small amounts of time, anyway.

If we decide that squad rotation is a good idea, the next thing we have to do is figure out who the “A” team is (Okay, no more ‘80s jokes, this one is too easy to put forth much effort).

In my mind this is the best team we can field (right to left):

Goalkeepr: Julio Cesar

Center Backs: Lucio, Samuel

Fullbacks: Maicon, Chivu

Center Midfielders: Zanetti, Cambiasso, Motta

Attacking Midfielder: Schmujcko

Forwards: Eto’o, Milito

That leaves Toldo, Cordoba, Materazzi, Santon, Deki, Quaresma, Mancini, Muntari, Vieira, Krhin, Obi, Suazo and Balotelli on the second team. Orlandoni, as the 3rd team goal keeper, is an emergency player.

Before we continue let’s discuss the “B” squad for a moment. Many of these players are not exactly “B”. Muntari, Santon, (god help me) Vieira, Deki and Balotelli are really more “B+” or “A-“squad. They play significant minutes with the “A” squad and in many cases they will start.

On a personal note, I pray that we can get rid of Vieira next summer because the thought of another season after this one with him playing significant minutes will just make my hair turn grey, fall out and grow funky eyebrows. Jeez, he bothers me.

Now just to be clear, I don’t expect there to be 100% turnover from the Parma game to the Barcelona game if we rotate the squad. Let’s be realistic, here. Some players are just going to have to play more than others. Having said that, I think that there might be significant changes between the two games.

Here’s how I think the “B” squad might look if we keep the same formation (right to left):

Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar

Center Back: Cordoba, Chivu

Fullback: Maicon, Santon

Center Midfield: Zanetti, Vieira, Muntari

Attacking Midfield: Deki

Forwards: Balotelli, Milito

According to my complete speculation and assumption regarding the rotation of the squad, six different players may come in and play significant roles. Cambiasso and Motta, assuming they’re healthy, will need rest for the same reasons: they are both proven to be injury prone. We know from last season that Mourinho likes to rotate his Center Backs from game to game depending on importance – if he didn’t we wouldn’t have had those wonderful games against Sampdoria or Werder Bremen.

If we were to change the formation, into something more in accordance to what we saw (or didn’t see, but read about) with our friendly this past weekend, like the 433, I think that we might see a personnel shift this way (right to left):

Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar

Center Backs: Cordoba, Chivu

Fullbacks: Maicon, Santon

Center Midfielders: Zanetti, Vieira, Muntari

Forwards: Quaresma, Milito, Balotelli

We still see a shift of 6 players but the formation change is significant. I don’t see any way that Julio Cesar isn’t the goalkeeper, nor do I see any chance that Zanetti or Maicon don’t see the field. Everyone else is negotiable, as I see it.

I would love to see a discussion regarding whether rotation is a good idea here, or who would be rotated in/out or what formation we might use. Would this be the same against all the teams that we would consider in the bottom half of the table?

Here we are, just 8 or 9 points shy of our 17th Scudetto. Now is the time to really step up and finish this thing off. Unfortunately, we did not take full points against Juve last week, though we really should have. We are still 10 points up but, as Mourinho points out, we must assume that Milan and Juve will win the rest of their games – we cannot expect any gifts from them. Even though Napoli has been in a bit of slump this year with something like 14 games without a win, we must approach this game with full concentration and desire to finally put this championship away. Last Thursday we “played for fun“; this game it is back to work.

I think we all remember what happened last year: Napoli handed us our first league loss of the season. Here are the highlights for the masochistic out there:

Hamsik is one tricky so and so.

THEM

Once again, I dont have to do much here. Neil does a great job, so if you are looking for a Napoli point of view, go check out his preview.

Donadoni has called up 19 players:
Navarro, Bucci, Aronica, Contini, Grava, Santacroce, Amodio, Blasi, Bogliacino, Datolo, Hamsik, Mannini, Montervino, Pazienza, Denis, Lavezzi, Pià, Russotto, Zalayeta.

Cannavaro is suspeneded. Gargano, Maggio, Iezzo, Rinaudo, and Vitale are out die to injury, while Santacroce recently took a knock to his ankle and may not be 100% fit. Napoli has any number of players that can cause trouble for Inter, though, and this game is by no means in the bag.

The squad looks up for it.

US

Mourinho summed it up nicely when he said: “We have to play this game with confidence, but with ambition, the ambition of winning the Scudetto as soon as possible and win the 8, 9 points we need.”

He has called up 20 players:
Portieri: Toldo, Julio Cesar, Orlandoni;
Difensori: Cordoba, Maxwell, Burdisso, Materazzi, Samuel, Chivu, Santon;
Centrocampisti: Zanetti, Stankovic, Figo, Vieira, Cambiasso, Mancini;
Attaccanti: Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Obinna, Balotelli.

First off, Muntari is injured. He was subbed off against Juve and has not been called up for this game. Instead, we have the very frightening prospect of Patrick Vieira (!) taking the pitch tomorrow. I think we call all agree that his time is over. I just wish he would do the honorable thing and retire. Mancini is back in the call-up list and, after his performance against Reggina, that may not be a bad thing.

Mou hinted a bit at formations saying:

“It is easy to see who will play: Samuel, Figo and Stankovic who have not played the last match against Sampdoria and are less tired than the other. Muntari will be unavailable, and if your question is whether to show Zanetti in midfield or as a fullback, this is not a doubt for me, but it will remain for you”

Ok, how about this then:

JC (certo)
Santon (he did well in the coppa game, yes?) – Samuel – Chivu – Maxwell
Zanetti – Cambiassio – Figo
Stankovic
Balotelli – Ibrahimovic

or something like that. I think it is also possible that Mancini will get a bit of a run out. By all accounts, Cordoba had a bit of a stinker against Samp, so we may also get to see a bit of Marco. He may not be the best defender we have, but according to the fans, he played better than both Burdisso or Cordoba on Thursday.

Ibra wants new challenges, does he? How about the challenge of scoring more than one goal in the Champions League next year!

A good third of Mourinho’s press conference to day was about Ibra and his supposed admission that he wants to leave Inter. Mourinho pointed out that all Ibra said is that one day he would like new challenges – which is not to say that he wants them right now. Mourinho thinks this is statement has been blown out of proportion by the press and that Ibra will be at Inter next year. Of course, that and $2 will buy you a cup of coffee – there is just no saying what will happen come the summer. On the up side, if he does go, he will fetch a tidy sum for the club.

For now, though, Ibra plays for Inter. He is tied with Marco DiVaio for the capocanonieri today, but as both Bologna and Inter play tomorrow, Ibra may be playing catch-up. I think that this title is something Ibra wants, and wants badly. I am looking to him to score at least one tomorrow. Balotelli has had a couple of good games and may also be ready to add at least one more to his tally. His goal against Juve was magic (and what an assist from Muntari!). Inter may have said goodbye to one Emperor, but it could be we have another waiting in the wings.

Speaking of Balotelli

For those of you who dont read the Italian version of the Inter web page, the city of Naples has given Balotelli an official welcome to the city and a plaque reading: “With esteem, affection and friendship, to Mario Balotelli for a long and important career also with the colors Italy.”

Mario Balotelli, rocking Italy’s world.

It will be interesting to see how the Napoli fans react to Balotelli tomorrow. The FIGC seems to be taking a hard line over the issue of racist chanting – even if it is supposedly done for non-racist reasons. You would think the ultras would smarten up a bit. If all they are trying to do is wind Balotelli up, you would think they could find a different way to do it. My opinion is that the chanting stems from a bit of column A and B: the fans dont like Balotelli’s attitude/showboating, but I think they are also uncomfortable with the idea of a black Italian. As a culture, Italians are a xenophobic lot and I think the reality of Balotelli is much different that that of Sissoko, Vieira, or even Ferrari. Balotelli personifies change and I think that scares a lot of people. I dont think people dislike him because he is black, but because he challenges their notion about what it is to be Italian in the twenty first century, something foreign players do not. Once he starts scoring goals for the Azzurri, though, everyone will love him.

To Sum Up

Napoli is desperate to show that they are still a team with promise. They have not officially won a game since January 11th and will be hungry for blood (unofficially, they won that game against Milan). Donadoni will be looking to show he can field a winning team and what better team to do it against than the reigning Italian Champions. Napoli will be looking to score – they are a young team who play fast. Hamsik is particularly dangerous in the air. Inter will need all their wits about them to pull this off. When Napoli came to Milan, the game ended 2-1; I would be more than happy with a repeat of that scoreline (although 2-0 would be better!). Oh, and lets go Palermo and Reggina!

FORZA INTER

Ok, I admit that Cassano is a great football player, but this scares me.

On the way home from work this evening, I mentioned to the S.O. that I had to write this preview before our dinner plans (we carpool). His reply was “Coppa Italia, is that thing still on?” When I informed him that yes, it was, all he could say was “Hooray?” Clearly, this tournament is not important to the fan in question. To a certain degree, I share his opinion. This Coppa Italia game seems more like a chore to get through on our way to more important matches. Still, there is no sense in doing something unless you intend to do it correctly, so I expect the team to take the field tomorrow and play to win.

Mourinho has called up 19 players:

Goalkeepers: Toldo, Orlandoni, Belec.
Defenders: Cordoba, Maxwell, Maicon, Materazzi, Rivas.
Midfielders: Zanetti, Stankovic, Jimenez, Vieira, Cambiasso, Muntari, Mancini.
Strikers: Adriano, Crespo, Balotelli, Obinna.

Our schedule is finally starting to catch up to us and our injuries are beginning to accumulate. The list now stands at Burdisso, Ibrahimovic, Samuel, and Chivu. In addition, Santon has come down with the flu. Only Julio Cesar, Figo, and Cruz are out for “technical reasons.” Julio Cesar is being rested, as is Figo, I bet. Cruz is on the naughty list.

THEM

Inter has had 6 Coppa Italia meetings with Sampdoria in Genoa. The last time was in 2007 and was also a semi-final first leg. We creamed them 0-3 (two from Burdisso and one from Crespo). I think that was a fluke. Sampdoria are notoriously tenacious when playing on home ground. They looked quite confident against Milan this last weekend and, as the Coppa is their last chance for silverware this season, I suspect they will go at us tooth and nail tomorrow.

Mazzarri has called up 20 of his own:

Portieri. Castellazzi, Fiorillo.
Difensori. Accardi, Campagnaro, Da Costa, Ferri, Gastaldello, Raggi.
Centrocampisti. Dessena, Franceschini, Padalino, Palombo, Pieri, Sammarco, Stankevicius, Ziegler.
Attaccanti. Bellucci, Cassano, Marilungo, Pazzini.

As to who he will field and in what formation, try Rolf over at the Sampdoria board. I am sure he is far more qualified than I to take on that subject.

————–
Alrighty. So, I think it is fair to say that this will be a tough match for us. For some of the squad members who have been complaining about not getting enough play time (Obinna, Crespo, Jimenez, Balotelli), this will be a chance to show Mou that he has been wrong. On the other hand, this game may show the fans why Mou has been leaving them off the pitch.

Of course, I would like to win this game. I want to win every game, every time. I know that Mourinho wants to win. The question is, will the squad he has chosen be able to get the job done against a very highly motivated Samp squad? I think we just might.

FORZA INTER

For those of you who would like to watch Mou’s presser from today (in Italian, of course):

Man oh man, but this was a game. Really, after we went down 0-2 in the first half, I thought this was going to be Atalanta all over again. And, for a while – a really long, gut-wrenching while – it was. But then, after some tinkering at the half, Inter came out swinging and Balotelli put us back into the game. Even after we go down two goals again, we didn’t stop pushing. Finally, after a converted penalty brings us within spitting distance of a draw, Crespo comes on and two minutes later heads in the equalizer. His first goal of the season and the whole stadium goes ballistic. Didn’t I say there would be goals?!?

The highlights

After the match, an emotional Crespo had this to say:

“There was a bit of everything in this goal: a bit of anger, a bit of letting off steam, a bit of pride. This goal is no coincidence, but the consequence of my efforts to keep myself alive. My team knows that it can count on me completely. I will always give my all and I will be ready every time they need me”

I so wanted this for Crespo. He has been a rock, training, hoping, waiting… He has shown so much heart – he deserves to be the hero of the match.

Much like the Champions League game, this was a match of two halves. Roma went up early on what, it must be said, was a great goal by De Rossi. On our part, it was a huge brain fart by Nico and Santon. Then, after some strange (and very unusual) bumbling between Maicon and Julio Cesar, Riise slotted home Roma’s second.

Why oh why did Riise have to get his first Serie A goal against Inter?!?

This game saw the return of Panucci to the Roma fold and he played for all he was worth. This first half saw more than one tussle for the ball between the defender and Adriano. True, Adriano failed to score, but at least he was trying. Balotelli was almost nonexistent in that first half.

Panucci can’t even wait until the break to swap shirts with Adriano. He wants it NOW.

I don’t know what happened at the break, but it was a different team that came out. According to Stankovic, the horrible performance we saw on the pitch that first half was because of residual tension from the CL tie. As for what happened in the interval, he said:

“During the interval we told ourselves that we had to show we are a great team. We looked each other in the eyes and took off.”

For the second half, Nico and Maxi came out, Cambiasso pushed back into defense, and Figo and Vieira came on. It was a very attacking formation that paid off almost immediately. Roma must have been expecting the same stinky Inter ’cause they allowed Maicon and Balotelli to walk fight up to their goal and put one home. Hurray. I thought we were finally back in the game, but then, no. After some uncharacteristic strangeness from Cambiasso, Roma get another goal and the acid in my stomach picks up again.

Back down two goals. Yikes. But still we soldiered on. In the face of that two-goal mountain to climb, we pulled up our socks and got to climbing. Our next goal came from the infamous penalty – our second of the season. As I sit here watching the game again (I DVR all of them), he sure looks pushed to me. If there are those that say he wasn’t, I respect your opinion but I dont agree. In any event, the score was 2-3 and Inter still did not stop pouring forward.

Balotelli and Motta try for the spectacular ball.

In the 77th minute, Crespo came on for Adriano whoops, on for Stankovic and BAM! Goal number three. Crespo gets his first goal of the season, and for a minute, the old Hernan comes shining through. But there was still 15 minutes left in the game and it could go either way. High tension indeed. Riise came close on a free kick in the last 5 minutes of the game. Luckily the Julio Cesar that we know and love was in goal for that kick instead of the body snatcher from the first half. Then there was a 1-on-1 between De Rossi and JC that Daniele thankfully put wide. Injury time was all about Roma taking shots at our goal. It was horrifying. Somehow, we managed to clear our lines and when that whistle blew, I realized that I hadn’t taken a proper breath in 5 minutes.

Crespo, my hero!

In the end, this draw felt like a win to me. I know we dropped 2 points against Juve, but the fact that we did not roll over at 0-2 and came back fighting is a testament to our determination.

Mourinho agrees, saying:

“The point earned from tonight’s match is a golden point because when you’re losing 2-0 and then 3-1 against a top-level team it’s not the same as losing against a team of low quality.

The match seemed lost after their third goal but the team’s character prevailed. The team wasn’t in top condition. It was without Ibrahimovic and the match against Roma seemed less important than the one we played against Manchester United on Tuesday, but in truth it wasn’t and this match deserved maximum respect.”

We have a midweek Coppa Italia game against Sampdoria (who looked great against Milan on Saturday), Genoa the following Saturday, Manchester United on Wednesday the 11th, and Fiorentina on Sunday the 15th. I am tired just thinking about it.

On top of the grueling schedule, our injury list is beginning to grow. Ibra failed a late fitness test on Sunday, Chivu and Samuel were already injured and somehow Nico picked up something that required “treatment” today.

OTHER NEWS

Toldo has signed a 2-year contract extension to play until 2011. I was afraid he would leave when his contract expired this summer. I am glad he is sticking around a little while longer. I bet we even see him in goal against Sampdoria.

Crespo way back when against Reggina, September 2002.

Going the other way, Hernan Crespo has said he will be leaving the club this summer when his contract expires:

“… in June, without a doubt, I will change team. At this point it has become clear to me that this is the only solution as facts speak louder than words.”

I will miss him, but I have to agree, it is time to go. We have had an on again, off again relationship – he even dallied with Milan for a year – but in the last two seasons, he has scored 27 goals for Inter. He has always been willing to give his all for the club and I wish him the best. Whatever happens these next few months, he can rest well in the knowledge that he was the hero for at least one last game.

Ok, Ragazzi, we have a busy busy week ahead of us. I will get something up for ahead of the Sampdoria but dont expect much.

FORZA INTER

Adriano as part of the new Nike “V for Victory” ad campaign. He’s not as fat as I thought.

Supercoppa d’Italia: Inter 2 – 2 Roma at the end of the game, Inter 8 – 7 Roma after penalties.

Serie A: Roma 0 – 4 Inter

Coppa Italia: Inter 2 – 1 Roma

FORZA INTER

For those of you interested in horror films, here are the highlights.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Well, if you believe the players, Mourinho, and Moratti, just about everything.

For Julio Cesar, it was a sad day: “We made a slow start and we were below par. Del Neri’s team played much better than us and we have to admit that they deserved the victory.”

Cordoba’s take on the game is much like my own. He said: “Atalanta played a lot better than us. They played off by heart and this caused problems for us. It was a terrible day and we have to learn from our mistakes so we don’t repeat them, and look ahead… We play again on Wednesday and we’ll have to play an excellent match against Roma to get back our game and morale.”

Moratti flat out blamed Mourinho: “I don’t think it is possible to see a worse Inter than the one we saw yesterday. Mourinho makes the choices that he wants and we support him. He decided everything, even on the winter preparation…”

For his part, Mourinho agrees, it is all his fault: “..this result is our fault. I have broad shoulders and I prefer the criticism to fall on me rather than on my players… If we talk about today’s match I confess that the coach is the face of his team, the only person responsible for the defeats. We played our worst match of the season. I’m the coach, I’m not touchy, and I’m open to any type of criticism.”

So there you go, criticize away.

But that is the past, now we have another game to think about.

COPPA ITALIA QUARTERFINAL

What: Inter V Roma
Where: San Siro, Milan
When: Wednesday, Jan 21, 8:45pm local (11:45am pacific, 2:45pm eastern).
How to Watch: GolTV has the rights so check your schedule. Try a stream from here or here.

Mourinho has made his call-ups for the game:

Goalkeepers: Toldo, Julio Cesar, Belec.
Defenders: Maicon, Burdisso, Rivas, Samuel, Chivu, Santon.
Midfielders: Zanetti, Stankovic, Figo, Cambiasso, Muntari, Mancini, Quaresma.
Strikers: Ibrahimovic, Adriano, Balotelli.

Much as I thought, Quaresma, Mancini and Balotelli are on the list. I am sure that Balotelli will get some pitch time, but I am just not sure how to work Quaresma or Mancini in.

As for the line-up, Mou says:
“The group on the pitch will be the same as in the last matches, the one I consider the strongest possible, and Ibrahimovic, Zanetti, Muntari, Cambiasso and Maicon will definitely play.”

Note that Cordoba and Maxwell are both off the list. I guess this means a start for Chivu in defense and Samuel will pair with Burdisso in the center. I still cant remember if Rivas is any good. In front, I think Adriano will start, but that Balotelli will play. Whether he plays well is a different story.

Ok, so to wrap up, Inter has looked into gaping maw of mediocrity and I hope it scared the pants off them. Sunday’s game will have to be the “what not to do” for the rest of the season. Roma are a good team and will be difficult to beat. Not that we cant, but certainly they will be fighting tooth and nail. I will hope for a positive result, but I am much more focused on the league this season. The darkness that is Juventus is beginning to close in and the tiny prick of light our 3 points represent may not be enough to hold it back.

Still, even in the face of defeat

FORZA INTER

And congratulations to Ibra who won 3 Calcio Oscars: best player, best foreign player and best goal in 2008! He still needs to do something with his hair, though.

Inter take on Genoa at home in the Round of 16 for the Coppa Italia (also called the TIM Cup as Telecom Italia Mobile sponsors the thing). This is our first game in the 2008/9 tournament, but Genoa have already knocked out two Serie B teams: Mantova and Ravenna. The winner of this game will take on Roma in the Quarterfinals, the looser is out. I guess 4 consecutive Inter v Roma finals was getting boring.

So, will someone please tell me why I should care about this tournament? For both Roma and Juve, a win this year brings them to 10 so they would get to add a silver star to their jerseys – everyone like stars. For Inter, this would be number 6 – great, but no big thrill. Sure, it is nice to win things and all, and it would be a keen consolation prize if we were not in the running for the Scudetto, but right now, it just feels like a distraction. Don’t get me wrong, it was fan-freaking-tastic to win in 2005 and 2006 – it had been so long since we had won anything that I was overjoyed with the trophy and the little round patches for our jerseys (right). Now, though, the game is just one more chance for someone to be injured.

According to our Bear-on-the-ground, Inter fans in Milan feel about the same. Inter are literally giving the tickets away but no one wants them. Can you blame them? The game starts at 9pm on a school/work night and it held in an open stadium where, at best, it will only be freezing cold. At worst, spectators will have to sit 90 minutes in the sleet. Talk about a hard sell. I love Inter, but I think that would keep me home as well.

Traditionally, this tournament is a time for younger players and B-squad members to shine. Last year Balotelli was thrust into stardom with his brace against Juventus in the return leg of the knock out round, eliminating Juve from the competition. This year, though, Mou is setting his own course and the call-up list includes the usual suspects:

Goalkeepers: Toldo, Julio Cesar, Orlandoni.
Defenders: Maxwell, Maicon, Burdisso, Samuel, Chivu, Santon.
Midfielders: Zanetti, Jimenez, Cambiasso, Muntari, Mancini, Quaresma.
Strikers: Ibrahimovic, Adriano, Crespo, Obinna

The notable absences are all due to suspension, injury, or spoiled brattyness:
Materazzi and Cruz are suspended; Stankovic, Cordoba and Vieira are injured; Balotelli has a bad attitude. So there you go. The only youth player on the list is Santon and I bet cash money that he will not see the field unless something too horrific to even think about happens.

Mou wants to win, and is treating the game as such, saying:

“We have to win. It would be easier to say that it’s not an important match, I would have an excuse ready on the table if it went badly, but it’s not like this.”

As for the line-up, Mou said that Adriano will play, but is not fit for a full 90. Toldo will start, “with Maicon, Burdisso, Samuel and Maxwell in defense.”

That gives us:

Toldo
Maicon Burdisso Samuel Maxwell
Zanetti Cambiasso Muntari
Jimenez
Ibra Adriano/Crespo?

As for Genoa, they are coming off a big win against Torino. Their star striker, Milito, is out injured, but Saturday’s 3-0 scoreline suggests he is not overly missed. I am sure that they will bring their “A” squad to Milan, and also want to win, but Inter is not Torino and I think we can take them. Besides, Maradona is attending to check out our Argentinians: he is meeting with Zanetti and Burdisso after the game, and Samuel is “on his list.” They will all be on best behavior for him.

[on a side note, Maradona is causing quite a stir with a short interview he gave to Il Corriere dello Sport. He thinks that Tevez and Aguero should both come to Inter and he intends to tell them so. Of course, isn't that what Moratti pays him for?]

I think it is safe to say that all eyes will be on Adriano tomorrow. This game is a bit of a make or break situation for l’Imperatore. He has to show once and for all that he is not the drunken man-child he has been acting like these last few months years. Everyone, cross your fingers – we desperately need him to come back.

So, no predictions tonight. It will be what it is. Winning is always better, but if we dont, I wont cry. Just please, please, please, no more injuries. I will be attempting to watch this at work tomorrow. Luckily, it starts at noon here in Seattle so at least I can claim some of that screwing around as lunch. Hopefully the streaming fairy will be kind.

FORZA INTER

Well, I guess the Coppa Italia isn’t totally useless – it is, after all, a cup.