Inter’s consistent, aggressive and determined semi-final victory over Barcelona showed their mettle.
In Wednesday’s second-leg at Nou Camp, Mourinho’s men came with a plan and they remained focused throughout the contest despite a rather harsh first-half red card to Thiago Motta or even the late pressure Barca piled on.
Inter sat back, parking the bus about 20 metres from goal forcing Barca the long way round, whilst maintaining the discipline not to offer any half-chances or free-kicks in dangerous areas.
It was measured stuff and determined stuff. Barca may have dominated possession, but Inter’s spot in the final seems well deserved.
Of course, goalkeeper Julio Cesar made some good saves, including a first-half ripper from Lionel Messi’s curling effort, but Inter won the tactical battle. Barcelona perhaps were short a Plan B and there’s question marks about Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry at Nou Camp.
Inter, though, will enter the final in Madrid on May 22 as favourites and will need to offer more adventure than shown in the second-leg in Spain’s other big city, Barcelona.
The Italians did produce three goals in their first-leg victory over Barca in Milan, which bodes well but it was another tactical display which unlocked their opponents.
Watching Mourinho’s celebrations at Nou Camp on Wednesday, you wonder if they’ve won their Grand Final? You’d think not, with so much at stake, but they’ll need to prepare again for Bayern, who are a different proposition altogether.
Tough midfielders Mark van Bommel and Bastian Schweinsteiger, along with dangerous livewire attackers like Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic will be tricky. Franck Ribery, though (pending an appeal) will miss the final.
It is hard to predict where the danger comes from with Bayern. Even defender Daniel van Buyten has popped up with plenty of goals in this season’s Champions League edition.
Bayern, who appear to have a blessed run, weren’t tested too much by Olympique Lyon in their semi-final.
Their tie pales in comparison for ‘epicness’ to the Inter-Barca one.
Lyon offered Bayern plenty of time and space to dominate proceedings and when the French side had their chances they didn’t take them.
So you could argue, Bayern have had some luck on their way to the final, but they have made their own luck after looking gone from the competition in November, before a memorable 4-1 win at Juventus.
Indeed, Louis van Gaal’s men will offer Mourinho quite the challenge.
Inter may have knocked off the holders Barca, but the Bavarian giants present a whole new proposition.
The big question is can Mourinho mastermind another triumph. As the favourites for the final it’ll require fresh tactics but the Portuguese self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ seems the man for the job… and the occasion.