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Inter defeated Fiorentina 3-1 and sealed second place behind the new Italian champions AC Milan [congratulations]. This win ensures Nerazzurri will enter the next UEFA Champions League in the group stage.
The significance of the game [as the atmosphere on the pitch suggested] can't be overvalued. As the inclusion of Marco Materazzi in the starting eleven suggested, the atmosphere on the pitch was more typical of a friendly. Time to try new players and to experiment a bit.
Leonardo chose Pazzini as lone striker with Eto'o and Coutinho behind, free to create and move. They both had a good game, which is no news for the Cameroon star but it's an encouraging sign for the Brazilian starlet. Coutinho scored in the 76th minute with a perfectly executed 25-yard free-kick over the wall. It wasn't a decisive goal but it was the best shot of the game, paired with Gilardino's goal.
Inter's good result will boost Nerazzurri's morale before the Italian cup semi-final 2nd-leg against Roma on Wednesday at San Siro - Inter won the away game 1-0. Nerazzurri are ending the season in good spirit and the chance to clinch another trophy is more than a mere possibility. Winning the Coppa Italia can help the club to sell some of its fading stars.
The Coppa Italia would be Leonardo's first trophy in his managerial career but it's likely to be the one and only at Inter, despite 16 wins out of 21 league games in charge. A Barcelona triumph at Wembley could facilitate Guardiola's departure from Camp Nou, with Inter and Chelsea the two likeliest options for the Catalan coach.
But Pep is not the only threat to Leo's bench - there is still a verbal agreement with a guy called Jose Mourinho. Leonardo knows how it works: "I have never thought about leaving Inter. I have a contract and want to respect it, even if I know a coach is always judged on results".
Man of the match: Coutinho. The 18-year-old talent scored the first goal with Inter in great style. It's an event that needs to be celebrated, as it can be the first of many in years to come.
Serie A 2010-11 / day 36
INTER-FIORENTINA 3-1
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Materazzi (76' Lucio), Ranocchia, Chivu (72' Obi); Zanetti, Cambiasso; Kharja, Coutinho, Eto'o (58' Pandev); Pazzini. Coach: Leonardo
Fiorentina: Boruc; De Silvestri, Gamberini, Natali, Pasqual (81' Comotto); Behrami, D'Agostino (56' Mutu), Montolivo; Cerci (71' Santana), Gilardino, Vargas. Coach: Mihajlovic
Referee: Banti
Goals: 25' Pazzini, 28' Cambiasso, 75' Coutinho; 73' Gilardino
Yellow cards: De Silvestri
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Comments
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Posted by Pietro on 05/09/2011
Very good performance by Coutinho
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Posted by Sam on 05/09/2011
Great stuff by Coutinho and the team as a whole. They looked much fresher after the small break they had. Matrix playing could be a token to say thanks for all his service as he is surely not going to be in the team next year.
I was interested by the comments about the coaches. From what I have seen, unless something dramatic happens, Leonardo will be coach next season. I think Moratti's expectations were not too high after the Benetiz disaster. He was frustrated with his coach antics both on and off the field and Leonardo arrived as a breath of fresh air. Unless Mou becomes available I can see Moratti giving Leo another season. Pep will definitely not come to Inter next year, which is a blessing. As highly rated as he is I am concerned as to whether he could coach any team other than Barca. Can he adapt to a squad who cannot play 'Barca football'? I doubt it. He is the right coach for Barcelona but not Inter. Mou also will not be coming back. Leo will be there next year.
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Posted by Pietro - the original on 05/10/2011
I agree with Gianni, the other Pietro (welcome!) and Sam about Coutinho. Very good display. Not sure about Leo staying one more season. Many Interisti friends of mine hope to see Mou back asap and many newspapers in Italy back this view with gossip and rumors to suggest Mourinho really wants to come back to Inter. Sam I agree with you about Guardiola he can be a success only at Barcelona. To win with Inter he needs to replace Cambiasso, Stankovic, Motta with Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta and there will be still Messi missing. Impossible!!!
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Posted by connor on 05/10/2011
As much as i'd love Mou to come back, i don't think he will. He's spoken of his desire to return to England every second week.. and although United may be the only place for him, it's only a matter of time before Sir Alex retires. Which then, he MIGHT come back to Inter while he waits for Fergie to leave. That would be the only way he would come back to us.
Mind you, his relationship with the Italian press was the worse he's had in each of his jobs. That could be another deciding factor.
Pep is a good coach but only in Spain. Barca could play without a coach and still win (which annoys me). Barca are the 'gods' of football and i'm tired of them always placing themselves on a platform. Pep has the same attitude.
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Posted by Norman Mafaune on 05/11/2011
Jose Mourinho will be at Real Madrid despite his personal differences with Joe Valdano. He has transformed Real within this short period of time, Barca are only favoured by some flawed refereing which I think and hope will never happen when they meet other refree favourits, Manchester United on 28 MAY in Wempley.
I dont think Barca are in the class that the press placed them and claim them to be. There are just an ordinary team saved in many ocasions by benevolence of officials. They have never worn a crucial game against eleven opponents.
Next seasons they will crumble wether Pep Gadiola is or is not there. Last but noty least, Real Madrid need to swallow their pride and buy an ultimate striker in the form of Ramadal Falcao to increase their attacking options like any other big football team.
Lets meet next season.Real Madrid....Voldano is now an expence to the team. A team on a rebuilding exercise doesnt need to have antagonism. Give Jose a chance without hinderances...
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Posted by Norman Mafaune on 05/11/2011
Jose Mourinho will be at Real Madrid despite his personal differences with Joe Valdano. He has transformed Real within this short period of time, Barca are only favoured by some flawed refereing which I think and hope will never happen when they meet other refree favourits, Manchester United on 28 MAY in Wempley.
I dont think Barca are in the class that the press placed them and claim them to be. There are just an ordinary team saved in many ocasions by benevolence of officials. They have never worn a crucial game against eleven opponents.
Next seasons they will crumble wether Pep Gadiola is or is not there. Last but noty least, Real Madrid need to swallow their pride and buy an ultimate striker in the form of Ramadal Falcao to increase their attacking options like any other big football team.
Lets meet next season.Real Madrid....Voldano is now an expence to the team. A team on a rebuilding exercise doesnt need to have antagonism. Give Jose a chance without hinderances...
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Posted by Roberto on 05/11/2011
I really like Coutinho... and he'd be a great fit at Barcelona.
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Posted by Henderick on 05/11/2011
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Posted by Sam on 05/11/2011
Hendrick. I know you are obviously a Barcelona but you are probably commenting in the wrong blog as you will find little sympathy for either Barcelona's diving and referee favours as they recieved the same against Inter Milan last season when Tiago Motta was sent off for a clear Busquets dive, almost costing us qualification and Mourinho is celebrated as close to a god by Inter fans for what he managed to do for our club.
In my opinion most teams that win the Champions League receive at least one major decision in their run. Barcelona however do seem to have received more than their fair share in the last few seasons. I dont think there is some sort of conspiracy but maybe they are just better at fooling the ref.
I just find it sad that 3 or 4 players in the most technically gifted team in football have to resort to blatant dives in order to win matches. More neutrals would respect them if they cut this out of their game.
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Posted by sabeer ali on 05/11/2011
to all you barca haters outthere,bring any side real ,chelsea ,inter ,man u,milan,bring any side outthere and we'll beat them,as for this mourinho crap,didn;t marcelo dived to win a penalty against us and dove to get crouch sent off,jose trying all sorts of stuff,he is overrated,pep much better,all the money real madrid spent and they still not better than barca,barcelona to rule football for years to come 'GO BARCA.
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Posted by connor on 05/12/2011
Sabeer, are you actually proud of your team and how they won the Semi's against Real? I was appalled at how they played. Diving, all over the place. Every call, they swarmed the ref. The players were the reason that Pepe was sent off for a Dani Alves dive. Busquets dove. Mascherano dove. Pedro dove. Alves dove. Come on. If that was Inter, I would be ashamed of my team. Valdes ran out of his box numerous times to protest calls. I'm a goalkeeper as well. And I know for a fact that he very well could have been sent off for that. It's embarrassing.
And even though Ronaldo does whine, I agree, he makes a good point when he says "every team against Barcelona plays a man down".
Inter. Arsenal. Madrid. Funny enough that up until the point where Pepe got sent off, Messi was OUT OF THE GAME. As soon as Pepe was gone, Messi started scoring.
And please tell me with a straight face that you HONESTLY believe that Alves being stretchered off only to run back onto the pitch was the most valiant thing
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Posted by connor on 05/12/2011
the most valiant thing to do. That was pathetic.
And you know what, Mourinho is a MUCH better manager than Pep, because he's shown that he can lead multiple teams to UCL glory. Let's see Pep guide Porto to another Champs title. He won't.
I am tired of stupid little prick fans like yourself galivanting about how Barca are the gods of football. They are not. It's time someone shuts you all up once and for all. I really really hope that United can absolutely SLAY you guys come Wembley. Because United can show Barca that a real team effort is how you win. Not by whining and diving and showboating. Messi has skill. but his teammates are pathetic.
P.S Barca's starting 11 is the only strong point to their team. Nice bench, it's a sh*t bench. YOU try to win a second leg semi final with a team of second strings, and no, not against Ruban Kazan. That doesn't count.
I'd really like to hear a counter-argument against all that evidence I just brought up. Piss off our discussion, you scum.
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Posted by Sam on 05/12/2011
Maybe we should leave the merits of Barcelona and Madrid to the Barcelona and Madrid blogs. I would rather hear comments about Coutinho and Leonardo and our mighty Zanetti's 1000 professional games than about anything happening in the Spanish league!
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Posted by Sam on 05/12/2011
Maybe we should leave the merits of Barcelona and Madrid to the Barcelona and Madrid blogs. I would rather hear comments about Coutinho and Leonardo and our mighty Zanetti's 1000 professional games than about anything happening in the Spanish league!
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Posted by Bonner on 09/28/2011
Slam dunkin like Shaquille O'Neal, if he wrote ifnormtavie articles.
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About
Gianni Serra is a European football journalist. He currently writes for lechampions.it, covering international club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, the CAF Champions League, the O-League. You can follow him on twitter: @gianniserra20
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