A special night, a special team and a special title. And it was all because of the Special One.
José Mourinho’s Inter Milan put a decisive capper on an incredible season on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at Madrid’s Estadio Bernabéu. In the process, Mourinho becomes only the third manager in history to with the European Cup with two different clubs.
Diego Milito scored twice and Inter put on a master class of defending, and the Nerazzurri ended the night lifting their third European Cup in club history and first in 45 years.
An expected chess match of tactical mastermind coaches ended up being just that. But from the opening whistle, it became painfully obvious to Louis van Gaal's side that Mourinho had devised a formula that worked. Inter sat back and absorbed pressure, bringing nine to 10 men behind the ball and allowing Bayern the bulk of the possession, much as they did in a monstrous upset of defending champions Barcelona in the semifinals.
Mourinho deployed his Argentine midfielders, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, to disrupt Bayern’s flow. Meanwhile, left back Christian Chivu was tasked with blanketing Bayern’s most dangerous player, Arjen Robben, while center back Walter Samuel pushed up on the Dutchman as well.
The results were astounding. Though Bayern had 70 percent of the possession, they created few chances and Robben was rendered largely ineffective.
Inter were content to wait for their openings, and their first came in the 34th minute. Milito fought off Bayern defender MartÃn Demichelis at the halfway line to head keeper Júlio César’s long clearance straight to Wesley Sneijder. The Dutch playmaker then threaded it back to Milito, who beat Demichelis and Daniel Van Buyten to chip Hans-Jörg Butt for his fifth goal of this year’s Champions League.
In the 70th minute, Milito added his second on a beautifully scripted counterattack. Striker Samuel Eto’o, who was brilliant in a largely defensive role, threaded the ball to the Argentine national-teamer on the left side. Milito went at Van Buyten one-one-one and wrong-wayed the Belgian defender to finish past Butt for the goal, sending the Inter faithful at the packed Bernabéu into hysterics.
Without French playmaker Franck Ribéry – who was suspended for a red card in the semis vs. Lyon – Bayern's offense rarely clicked. But they were denied an early opportunity that could have affected the eventual outcome. In the 16th minute, Demichelis’ header off a Robben corner kick deflected off Inter fullback Maicon’s right arm inside the box. Referee Howard Webb did not whistle for a penalty.
Van Gaal’s side also came close to equalizing just after the half, when Thomas Müller’s great chance off a perfect buildup by Ivica Olic and Hamit Altintop was saved by Júlio César. But in the end, the Bundesliga side couldn’t match up to Mourinho’s game plan.
The title marks Mourinho’s second as a manager – he won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004 and coached Chelsea to the semis twice. But this achievement may have been his finest: His team deposed the champions of England, Spain and Germany on a horrifically tough road to the cup.
He was brought to the San Siro specifically to lead Inter to the crown that had eluded them for so long. And he did far more. Under heavy criticism from media, fans and opponents alike, the Portuguese guided Inter to an unprecedented treble of European, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles. Inter are only the fourth European club in history to win a treble.
In his postgame press conference, Mourinho repeatedly reiterated he was done with Italian soccer and had his sites set on taking over at Real Madrid next season. If that’s the case, the Bernabéu got a fantastic sneak preview of what the Special One is capable of.
