Chelsea vs. Internazionale Match Facts

Ex-Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho swaggered into Stamford Bridge in a way that only he can, claiming that since he left the Bridge, Chelsea have been consigned to winning some trophies, while his aim still remains to settle with nothing but the biggest prize on offer for European clubs.

And since Chelsea's most successful coach left England, the Blues have only about tottered to win the FA Cup last year. Although to be fair, under Carlo Ancelotti, they are second in the league behind Manchester United, with a game in hand, still in the FA Cup, and prior to the game against Italian champions Internazionale, still in the Champions League as well. To which Mourinho's rather observing counter was that it is the team which he made (or bought, whatever), still the same captain, and even the same warmup sessions are followed.

Mourinho would just love to think that he's left a sort of legacy at Chelsea, which without him simply hasn't been winning important trophies. Mourinho—1, Chelsea—0.

Observations of the game go thus.

Lucio is the World's Best Center Back: Because if Didier Drogba is the world's best striker, simple use of analogy tells you that if a guy nullifies Drogba the way Lucio did, he must be the best in the world himself. The Brazilian captain was a rock and it was going to take more than just one Didier Drogba to get past him.

For all that Chelsea tried to attack Inter, Lucio simply resisted it all. He was blatant, in-your-face, and simply a delight to watch. Lucio is yet another example of Mourinho's brilliant vision for signings.

Javier Zanetti will Probably Never Grow Old: His wiki page told me he's been at Inter for a good 15 years. And while other Zanettis (just the one actually) have come and gone, at 36 he still has the engine to take on the Chelsea attack. And even weather the storms that will hit the Argentine defence in the World Cup. Vintage. Antique. And runs effing well too.

Wesley Sneijder is the World's Greatest Reject: Thrown out of Real Madrid and no-thankyou'd by Chelsea, Wesley Sneijder reluctantly made a small home for himself under the generous overcoat of the Special One. And how. Sneijder controlled the game with consummate ease. He walked the walk and passed the pass, so to speak. He gave the hardworking Inter players a vision.

As long as he's there, Inter's players need not use their brains. They can simply rely on his excellent understanding of the game.

Inter Need a Young Striker: If you ask me, for large parts of the match all of Inter's front three, Pandev, Milito, and Eto'o lacked bite. Perhaps it was an off game for them all, but I feel that coming up against a resolute defence, such as the one Chelsea has, really got to them. Sure they have Balotelli, but another young striker could make Inter practically unbeatable.

Chelsea Need Essien Back: And fast, because I said it before and I'll say it again that Jon Obi Mikel just doesn't have what it takes to cut it with the best of them in football. Chelsea clearly lacked the mad tackling that Essien gave them. Besides, his distribution is a lot, lot better than Mikel's.

Malouda was Chelsea's Player of the Night: On a night where the main talking points have been Lucio, Samuel, Maicon, and Sneijder, Malouda was one of the players from Chelsea who deserves a mention. Malouda was so good that Joe Cole's going to have a hades of a time trying to wrestle back the left wing spot. Malouda ran, dribbled, tackled, and passed well. Only thing lacking in his game, and it has been so for a while now, is his finish. If only he could take a shot from outside the box as well as Lampard does, Chelsea would have been cruising yesterday.

But Chelsea weren't cruising so much were they? Steadying the ship sounds more apt. But steady they weren't and Eto'o in a moment of Inter brilliance took the game away from the Blues. And with it went the first important trophy Ancelotti was gunning to win. Always an avid Jose Mourinho fan, I was delighted!