Jose Mourinho goes for the Serie A
It has been a hard, long campaign for Inter Milan this season. Expected to comfortably regain the Serie A, Jose Mourinho’s side were looking comfortable in mid-season having held off the challenge of AC Milan. Yet AS Roma’s surge in form under former Chelsea boss, Claudio “the tinker man” Ranieri coupled with Inter’s own blips have resulted in an excellent final weekend, where the champion has still to be awarded the Scudetto. Inter Milan’s slide can be attributed to their all-out assault on three fronts this season, the cup, the champions league and of course the league. This has resulted in allocated resources and personnel accordingly.
However, the Special One’s side has been able to cope admirably. They lifted the Coppa Italia by beating AS Roma just recently while they have a two point lead ahead of the Roman side heading into the final day of the season. On top of that, Inter Milan has secured a date with Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to be played at the home of Real Madrid. That match is being billed as Jose Mourinho’s audition for one of the hardest football jobs in world club football. With such an impressive assault on all fronts, Inter Milan stands at the precipice of a treble. What more will enhance the ego and resume of Mourinho than an unprecedented treble? Inter Milan has also not won a European trophy since in the 1960s and Jose Mourinho was specifically hired to end that drought by club head honcho Massimo Moratti.
The president of the club, Moratti admitted he was feeling the heat as Inter Milan prepare to meet Siena on the final day of the game. He said that nothing has been won yet and that, essentially, one game will decide the destiny of the Scudetto. Moratti said that despite having players of the caliber of Roberto Baggio and Ronaldo, Inter Milan sides in the past were not able to win anything. However, despite his nervousness, he expressed his confidence in the current side.
Given that Inter lead Roma by two points, the equation for the final day is fairly simple. With their destiny in their own hands, if Mourinho’s side wins, that is it. No fuss, no nothing; Inter Milan will regain the Scudetto regardless of the AS Roma’s results. If Inter loses however, and Ranieri’s men win, then the ex-ex-Chelsea manager will beat out the ex-Chelsea manager. If Inter draws and Roma wills, the side from the capital will lift the Scudetto courtesy of their better head to head against the team from Milan.
With Dutchman Wesley Sneijder struggling for fitness, Inter Milan head over to Siena to take on President Massimo Mezzaroma’s side. Mezzaroma who is a Roma fan has promised a huge bonus if his side can play their role in the Serie A race, beat Inter Milan and hand over the league to the team from the capital. However, Siena has not been in the greatest of forms recently and Mourinho should know how to prepare his team for the big day.
AS Roma’s exertions take place at Chievo who have nothing to play for this season. However, Chievo just last week took Inter the distance eventually losing 4-3 so that does not mean Roma can relax. The Roman’s task is simple. It is to win and hope for the best.
Roma’s season has been brilliant. At one stage of the season they were a total of 14 points behind leaders Inter. However, they have shown great grit, resolve and determination to reach this stage of the league in such an opportunistic situation. They also reached the final of the Coppa Italia only to lose to Inter Milan. Roma fans will be hoping that they do not come out second against Jose Mourinho again this season.
For Mourinho and Inter Milan, destiny awaits. Two games will decide if they are to go on and become part of folklore and history. Siena and Bayern Munich are essentially two cup finals (one actually is a cup final) which will assure Jose Mourinho instant cult status if they are to win and bring the glory back to the city of Milan.
Tags: