Mourinho gives new http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 manager Leonardo his blessings
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said he felt that newly appointed Inter Milan boss Leonardo is the right man for the job. Former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 manager Rafa Benitez was sacked after six months as the manager of Inter and Leonardo has taken over, in an attempt
to start the revival of the club in the tough New Year’s period.
Benitez has a habit of getting in to trouble with the management and he did exactly that when he had a disagreement with the president of the club. Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti decided it was time for the Spaniard to part ways with the club, especially
since he failed to impress anyone in the Italian side. Thus ended Rafa’s reign at Inter Milan and he is left without a job in mid season.
Rafa took over the Inter job when Jose Mourinho left in the summer to take on a bigger challenge in the form of Real Madrid. Mourinho had won the treble with Inter and when Rafa was appointed, he was expected to maintain the same standard. Unfortunately,
he was unable to do so, and blamed the squad he had inherited from Mourinho.
Mourinho and Rafa’s rivalry goes way back to their days in the Premier League when the Special One coached http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 and Rafa was in charge of Liverpool. When Rafa took over at Inter, Mourinho stated he did not expect the Spanish manager to do well. In fact
at every bad result Inter faced, Mourinho wasted no opportunity to taunt him.
However, Mourinho does not feel the same hostility towards the new Inter manager, Leonardo. Leonardo is a former AC Milan player and has been appointed as the Inter manager on a one and a half year contract. Mourinho revealed Leonardo had his full backing
and asked his former employers to be patient with the new manager.
He said, “He is great; support him the way you did me. Leonardo is great. I ask the Inter fans to welcome and support him the way they did with me. Last season Leo proved he is a coach of real potential. He is a great professional and not to be tagged as
a Milanista. He dedicated many years to Milan and will now do the same for Inter with the same passion. I really do wish him every success. Please support him.”
Rafa left Inter at 7th position in the Serie A table, some 13 points behind rivals AC Milan. This is a huge contrast from last season when Inter won the Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia with pretty much the same squad. The problem was
obviously with the manager and not the squad. Under Leonardo, they will have to work hard but a comeback is possible at this point in the season.
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