Inter Milan vs. Barcelona: Hunter Mourinho Could Kill Off Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is unquestionably the Champions League’s hottest player loaded with the most expectations in the semifinals, but Inter Milan’s hunting manager Jose Mourinho seems to know where to strike the perfect arrow so as to finish the Barcelona forward.

Both clubs meet on Tuesday night at the San Siro in a repeat of both side’s first Champions League match this season. Barcelona will be led by their commandant Lionel Messi who might still have fresh memories of his four-goal accomplishment against Arsenal in the quarterfinals, although Catalan fans will have to hope that the reigning FIFA Player of the Year will be able to launch a faultless attack in an attempt to humble the Special One, Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho has already told the press that he was aiming to stop Messi at the San Siro on April 20, explaining that he had made plans on paper and on computer which showed all his techniques against El Mesias.

Mourinho is even said to have sent co-workers to Spain ordering them to closely examine Messi’s style of play in his matches against Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, and Espanyol. However, for some reasons, the young Barcelona ace was only capable of getting a single goal in his last three league games; though his display was not below par.

Perhaps, Messi’s “failure” to show his great goalscoring skills might have disabled Inter Milan’s officers from sending a detailed report to Jose Mourinho; but in some ways, one could also wonder if the presence of the “scrutinizers” might have somewhat pressured the 22-year-old player in order to keep him from getting his name on the scoring sheet in two and a half games for Barcelona.

Such reasoning could seem highly unlikely for many, but in truth, the public’s opinion isn’t really what matters in present time; but rather, the minds of Jose Mourinho and Lionel Messi are what make a difference. Is the Special One confident that he will be able to deal drastically with the world’s beloved football superstar? Or is Messi feeling assured that the shields of his teammates will be enough to save him from Inter Milan’s countless arrows?

The future carries the answer, but in the meantime, the former Chelsea boss is thinking of using his new strategies which he himself created after analyzing Messi’s runs, passes, strikes, placement, and organization on the field. Mourinho has declared that Messi’s tendency to race on the flanks before drifting into the middle to lash a shot had not gone unnoticed by the Italian club’s coaching staff.

According to the Portuguese manager, his plans ahead of his first-leg game in the semifinals of the Champions League at the San Siro will also prevent Messi from moving forward past defenders through one-twos, as well as stopping him from placing himself in unmarked positions in attempts to simplify his racings and quick-steps dribbling.

Normally, a successful mission from the Special One in these areas on Tuesday night could mean a win for Inter Milan, which would therefore reduce Barcelona’s chances of playing at the Bernabeu in the final. As Messi isn’t an expert when it comes to headers due to his short height, defenders Lucio and Maicon could easily clear balls away in the air before the Argentine talisman even receives them or heads them in direction of other Barcelona players.

Moreover, Messi is said to dislike challenges from huge back players, but no other expression describes the playmakers composing the Milan defense better than “physically strong and elevated”.

Analytically, Inter could contain La Liga’s top scorer as ideally as Chelsea did last season in both semifinal legs, but they will also have to keep their attention on other stars such as Dani Alves, Xavi Hernandez, Pedro Rodriguez, and maybe Zlatan Ibrahimovic—who could all make dangerous shots on goal.

In the end, supporters of Internazionale can only pray that their side ends up much more successful in killing off Lionel Messi than Real Madrid in El Clasico on April 10. Messi got a goal in that match at the Bernabeu despite having Alvaro Arbeloa and a bunch of other defenders around him; but this time, he will have to watch out for Inter Milan’s strategies, for Jose Mourinho is never tired to hunt the relentless fighters.

The final question then appears: Will the one said to be the next coach of Real Madrid make a premature entry at the Bernabeu Stadium in the Champions League final in May, or will Lionel Messi push Barcelona to continue their quest of retaining their European title?

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