green shooter

Chapter 178
"You defeated your old rival today, how do you feel now?" The interview with Inter Milan coach Mourinho began.

"I'm very happy, we won today, it's a great game because the Champions League is unique," said the Portuguese, "It's different from all other competitions, it's a balanced game, both sides fight hard.

United got more chances in the first half, while Inter Milan played better in the second half.

We knew that we had to suppress our opponents and not give them any space because things could get more complicated as time goes by.

However, the game is not over. This is not a decisive game. There is still a second round, we are going to Manchester United's home court, and it will be a very difficult game.

But I believe in my players, we will definitely beat our opponents and advance to the Champions League. "

"So you think Inter will beat Manchester United to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League?"

"We will face the same good team in the second leg. The game will depend on our mentality, but I don't think they will be that calm because they know that if we score, they will be dangerous."

But for the victory, Mourinho has no doubts, "Inter Milan is ready to fight in Europe and win the Champions League.

In two weeks' time we need a stronger Inter team. "

"In the next period of time, will Inter Milan focus on the next game against Manchester United?"

"Right now, it's important to only think about the Champions League games, but I don't want my players to go out on the pitch under such pressure.

I want them to play with pressure and the first thing I will tell them and repeat from tomorrow is that I am very confident in our ability.

I have known Manchester United since 2004, they are the best team in the world, they play on the counter-attack and we have to be very smart to play against a team of this quality.

From my point of view, it is very easy to explain to my players how United will play, but it is not enough, whereas at Old Trafford we would be fighting twelve men on the pitch. "

"In tonight's game, which Inter Milan player do you think performed better?"

Mourinho praised Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 18-year-old full-back David Thornton, "I think it is right to talk about Ibrahimovic, he played a good game, we have to remember that the game against Manchester United is not the same as against Bologna.

I think it's also true to talk about Thornton, he's been fantastic in his Champions League opening game, more than I expected from him, he's held up the pressure of the best player in the Premier League. "

Regarding Santon, Mourinho likes to call him a "kid". "After tonight, David has become a real player. He has participated in seven official games in a row. He participated in the derby with AC Milan and the Champions League match with Manchester United."

Mourinho said he brought the 18-year-old Thornton into the press room for a post-match press conference, "take this opportunity and talk to him, because it will be two months before you can do this again."

Thornton said: "I am very happy with the win tonight. I faced some very fast and very skilled players. I have to stay focused from the beginning to the end so that the gap can be eliminated.

I want to thank Jose Mourinho for letting me play because he has shown a lot of trust in me and it has boosted my confidence.

To say I am the new Maldini would be an exaggeration.I have a lot of respect for him and I hope to have as great a career as he has.

Yes, I will be celebrating tonight, but I need to rest first, I am so tired. "

"What about Zhu Hantao? He scored a crucial goal."

"Oh, of course, I mean, there is no need to say anything more about Zhu Hantao's excellence, he is of course the most eye-catching one in tonight's game.

His goal was fantastic and gave us the lead in the two legs, he was outstanding. "

"Manchester United's head coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, said before that when he returns to Old Trafford, he will show you a good look. What details do you have on this?"

"Hahaha," Mourinho replied with a smile in a good mood, "Today's result is very favorable for us, for them, at Old Trafford, they cannot lose, even if it is a draw, we will qualify.

So I think they might be feeling some pressure, which makes me happy. "

Of course, Zhu Hantao, who scored the only goal in the match between Inter Milan and Manchester United, would not be easily let go by the reporters.

"Zhu, are you satisfied with your performance in today's game?"

"Hey," Zhu Hantao smiled shyly, "I feel very honored to be able to score against such a great team as Manchester United, but if I say I am satisfied, it is definitely not satisfactory.

I think I still have room for improvement. For example, I should have seized the opportunity in the first half, which is a pity. "

"What do you think about Manchester United?"

"Manchester United is a great team with a long history. Under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, they have reached the top again. They have many outstanding stars and they are one of the strongest teams in Europe.

In today's game against us, for a period of time, especially in the first half, they took the absolute initiative on the field, and they were only a little luck away from scoring.

So for the second round, I think it will be very difficult for us to go to their home court. "

"What do you think of Cristiano Ronaldo's performance today?"

"Oh, Cristiano is a player I admire very much. I grew up watching his ball. I don't need to say anything about his strength. It is obvious to all. He is very outstanding. I am very happy to be able to compete with players of this level.

This is the charm of the Champions League. "

"But he didn't score a goal today?"

"No one can score goals every game. Today we restricted him very well at home, but he still posed a great threat to our defense many times."

……

The smoke of the European war has not completely dissipated, and the flames of the league are ignited again.

On the weekend, in the No.20 sixth round of Serie A, Inter Milan recharged their batteries at home and ushered in a match against Roma.

This game is the fourth time the two teams have met this season.

Compared with the championship game against Manchester United in the middle of the week, Mourinho replaced 4 starters, the central defenders replaced Cordoba and Burdisso, and Maxwell replaced Muntari as a left midfielder.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been in full attendance this season, was on the bench for the first time due to a slight thigh injury. Zhu Hantao played two games in a row in a week. Mourinho accepted the suggestion of the fitness coach for safety reasons and was also placed on the bench.Balotelli started and Kroos formed a striker.

For Rome, Perotta, Juan, Tonetto, Aquilani and other players were absent due to injuries. Veteran Panucci and coach Spalletti reconciled and returned to the starting lineup.

Captain Totti had already entered the squad, but his knee injury recurred again during the warm-up and he was helplessly absent.Pizarro served as the attacking midfielder, supporting Vucinic and Baptista.

Since February 2005, Inter Milan has remained unbeaten against Rome at home in the League.

The game was played in the rain, and there was some mist in the stadium before the game.This inevitably affects the performance of players on both sides.

In the first half, Roma captain De Rossi scored with a header, and left-back Riise scored the first goal since joining Roma.

In the second half, Balotelli's goal in the second half helped the team pull back a goal, but Brigi's goal immediately restored Roma's two-goal lead.

At such a critical juncture, both Ibrahimovic and Zhu Hantao were ready to play, but Mourinho just didn't let them play.

Then Balotelli scored twice, and Crespo, who came off the bench, scored a header to tie the score.

In the end, Inter Milan drew [-]-[-] with Roma at home, and their lead in the standings also shrunk by two points.

Four days later, the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia kicked off, and Inter Milan went away to start a first-leg contest with Sampdoria.

The goal of Inter Milan is of course to reach the final of the Coppa Italia for 5 consecutive years.

1个多月前，国际米兰曾在意甲联赛中主场1比0击败桑普，而赛季首轮两队在费拉里斯1比1战平。

Inter Milan will also face Genoa in the same stadium on the weekend of the league after this line of matches.

Toldo, who renewed his contract with the club until 2011 the day before the game, continued to serve as the "cup goalkeeper". Mourinho tried the 4-3-3 formation again, and Mancini, who had been neglected for a long time, got the start, forming a trident with Azhu Hantao and Balotelli.

Sampdoria's coach Mazzarri was suspended and could only remotely control the game from the stands, with assistant coach Russo directing from the sidelines.

In the first half, Cassano scored first, followed by Pacini scored twice.At the end of only halftime, Inter Milan fell behind zero to three.

In the second half, Balotelli collided with the goal post and was injured. He was carried out on a stretcher and was sent to the hospital for examination.

After Bashen was injured and left the field, Zhu Hantao was also replaced by Mourinho. It seems that the Portuguese simply gave up the game.

Samp's goalkeeper Castellazi performed well and tried his best to keep his team's goal.In the end, Nerazzurri coach Mourinho suffered his worst defeat since taking office, losing [-]-[-] away to Sampdoria.

On the weekend of the 0-3 defeat to Sampdoria in the midweek cup match, the 27th round of Serie A began. Inter Milan "resides" at the Ferraris Stadium, but it has changed from the Coppa Italia to Serie A, and the opponent has changed from Sampdoria to Genoa.

In Inter Milan's defense, Samuel and Chivu were absent due to injury, Burdisso and Materazzi played as central defenders, and Figo started to replace Muntari.

Balotelli, who was injured in the Coppa Italia game, is not serious. He continued to enter the squad for this game and sat on the sidelines with Crespo as a substitute.Zhu Hantao and Ibrahimovic form a striker.

Genoa has remained unbeaten at home this season, and Scully, Milito and Jankovic form a trident.

国际米兰上次客场击败热那亚还要追溯到1992年5月，此后4场战绩为2平2负。

Inter Milan is wearing the "Centenary Jersey", and the club's centenary celebrations will come to an end in two days.

Not long after the start of the game, Inter Milan took the lead. Stankovic scrambled for the ball from the right and then kicked a long pass. Ibrahimovic headed offside and broke into the Genoa penalty area. Facing the attacking goalkeeper Rubinho, he lobbed a half-volley shot into the net from 13 meters in front of the goal, 1-0. The game only started 92 seconds ago!
This is also the No.20 second goal scored by Ibrahimovic in various competitions this season.

In the second half, Zhu Hantao received a direct pass from Figo and broke into the left side of the penalty area with a right-footed arc ball and hit the goal straight to the dead corner of the goal to help the team expand its lead.

In the end, Inter Milan defeated Genoa [-]-[-] away in this game, ending the opponent's unbeaten record at home this season.

But the bad news is that in the first half of the game, Materazzi and Burdisso were injured. In the game against Manchester United in the middle of next week, the Nerazzurri's central defenders are in a hurry.

The closer the second round with Manchester United, the more tense the preparation atmosphere in the Inter Milan team. Everyone knows that this game at Old Trafford, the home of the Red Devils, cannot be missed.

The day before the team departed for Manchester, that is, at noon on Monday, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti accepted a brief interview with reporters outside his office.Said something he had to say.

First of all, the reporter is very concerned about the injuries of the players. "Mr. Chairman, before the key game at Old Trafford, many important players were absent."

Moratti shook his head. "Yes, it is a pity that we will face this game without many important players. They are all players with experience and level, but they will not be able to play."

"At least, the positive news is that Samuel looks to be back in time to play."

Mr. Chairman shrugged his shoulders and pouted, "I'm afraid you have to ask Mourinho and the coaching staff about the players and their chances to participate in this game."

"You don't have good memories of Wolfgang Stark. He was refereeing against Arsenal and at Valencia when there was a post-match clash. Do you think his appointment will have any impact?"

"No, I don't see it that way, he is a very good referee. Of course the referee has nothing to do with those conflicts. His appointment is very good, he is a very good referee for international competitions."

"Sir, you were optimistic after the first leg against Manchester United. Are you even more optimistic after the Genoa game?"

"It was a very tense game, I think the Genoa game is just as important and I think we have to give our all in Manchester."

"Like last year, you faced an English team in red in the Champions League round of 16. Now, you have to rewrite the ending..."

The reporter means that Mancini's Inter Milan was eliminated by Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League last year. Will Mourinho's team repeat the same mistakes this year?

"No, it's a different team. Not the same team as last year, so the situation is different and we have to play well."

"What do you think of the team's game against Genoa last Saturday? Javier Zanetti said: 'We will not go to Manchester for a zero-nil draw, otherwise we will be in danger of conceding goals.'"

"Very good, in Genoa we played with important focus, concentration and intensity. Genoa played very well in the first half, Gasperini positioned his team very well, congratulations to the Genoa manager.

Mentally, it was the perfect rehearsal for the Manchester game. "

Mr. Chairman is very optimistic about the team's prospects in the Champions League.

(End of this chapter)