Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

/* Style Definitions */ table...

Inter Milan-Manchester United: Good or Bad for Italians?

by Marzia Hazra (Analyst)

16

493 reads

Opinion

December 19, 2008


Earlier today the draw for the first knock-out stages were made and an old rivalry will again come to life. Jose Mourinho’s Inter are set to take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.

Is it the worst possible nightmare or perhaps a blessing in disguise for Inter?

When the Champions League draw for the group stages were made back in August, Inter were drawn alongside Werder Bremen, Anorthosis Famagusta and Panathinaikos—a cruise to qualification many, including the Nerazzuri, expected. Six games later and, as expected, Inter qualified to the knock-out stages, along with Panathinaikos the surprising  group winners.

Inter replaced Roberto Mancini with Mourinho this summer in order to guide the club to long overdue Champions League success, but the Portuguese tactician has yet to make them play to their true potential.

An opening day win against Panathinaikos was followed by a draw against Werder Bremen. The same results followed in their double fixture with Cypriote surprise package Anorthosis Famagusta. Inter then closed the group stages with two back-to-back defeats against the first two outfits mentioned above.

Mourinho was hardly satisfied with the eight points gathered in their six games as the Inter manager stressed that he usually has eleven or twelve points at this stage.

Inter struggled against the top sides last term as they inevitably won the Scudetto by crushing the “smaller” sides of Serie A. However, this season has showcased several below-par performances from Mourinho’s side against lesser opposition, as players seemed to expect the results and exerted less effort.

This term, several games have been won by clinching last minute goals or due to the magic footwork of Inter’s star player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

There is no doubt that they struggled in their Champions League group – despite getting what looked like the easiest group on paper. Perhaps being drawn opposite the reigning European champions was not such a bad thing after all.

It was obvious from the group stages that Inter were lacking both motivation and focus. With Manchester United as opponents, neither of those factors will be missing when the Nerazzuri players enter the field. On top of that, there will be another battle raging off the field, between managers Mourinho and Ferguson, as neither will want to lose any face at all cost.

Mourinho will have one headache, though: His star man Ibrahimovic may be known around the Peninsula as a “crusher” of smaller sides, but the Swede is notorious for fading away in the big games.

In either case, Inter will have to put their best foot forward because they may just have gotten the toughest possible draw in the first Champions League knock-out stage. However, it seems the only way to bring out their true potential.

So, is it a good or a bad draw for the reigning champions of Italy?

We’ll see come March.

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article
  • /* Style Definitions */ table... DiggThis
  • StumbleUpon
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

15 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Zahi Sahli 6 months ago

    its definitely not a good thing, im sure.

    Mourinho recently said he is pleased with the tie because he's competitive. He can say that all he wants, but if Inter cant win at Panathinaikos I dont think they'll beat Man U, the champions of Europe.

    But I think Mourinho and his players will do well in the big game. Lets see. its a really exciting encounter.

    good article :)

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Marzia Hazra 6 months ago

      Thanks Zahi

      Good or bad, I'm still not sure, but an exciting encounter no doubt. I don't really see Inter winning but you never know I guess :P

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  2. Maire Ofeire 6 months ago

    This is one that could go either way - Mourinho would just love to get one over Fergie and vice versa.

    Have to feel bad for Roma though, they top their group beating Chelski and then they get such a tough draw in the last 16 poor guys :-)

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Marzia Hazra 6 months ago

      It could go either way and manager-wise I don't really know who I want to see on the losing side (for the fun comments hehe :P).

      Gunners will probably do a good job against Roma, (I hope anyways cos I really have a soft spot for Arsenal :-)

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  3. Keith Griffin 6 months ago

    We will see how the Mr.Fantastic Ibra does against us. Just like against Liverpool Im sure he'll fade away. Cant wait

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  4. peter Agrusa 6 months ago

    i cant wait to see ronaldo cry when inter win the second game in a row in old trafford

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Samrin Hasib 6 months ago

    i am hoping for an inter win, nice article mate.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  6. Geller 6 months ago

    Here's a piece of advice to you English natives.Don't underestimate Mourinho.You should know that by now seeing what he's done with the premier league in recent years and also, don't forget that Mourinho crushed Ferguson when he was in Chelsea.Anyway he's in 1st place with a 6 point lead in Serie A and in the knocking stage of the Champions League so take it down a tone he's doing fine, his team may not play in an attractive way or might slip sometimes like what happened in CL finishing 2nd but when the important moment comes he wins and you know it.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Marzia Hazra 6 months ago

      Mourinho has done fine in Serie A but the main reason he was brought to Inter was to win the CL and that's what's he'll be judged upon mainly. Ferguson will know better than to underestimate Mourinho considering the good old days ;)

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  7. Dave 6 months ago

    I can't wait for this one. With Vidic suspended Im sure Johnny Evans will wipe the floor with Ibra ;) Poor kid.

    Man U should be very worried. They know we got screwed against Liverpool last year and we'll be highly motivated. Our midfield and defense is obviously much stronger than theirs. Ibra is the key though. I fully expect him to dominate Evans or Oshea and silence all the doubters.

    Forza Inter!!!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Marzia Hazra 6 months ago

      Man U should be worried but like you said, Ibra is the key - only problem is that he tends to blend into the background in such prestigious games, but perhaps things will have changed till the meeting :) Should be an awesome game either way ;)

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  8. Shyam Parthasarathi 6 months ago

    Great for teams other than the two I guess! lol, it will be a fantastic clash.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.