In Italy, success is measured in European Cups and little else, says Aidan O'Hara
Sunday March 09 2008
Sunday March 09 2008
IN a Dublin pub during last season's Champions League final, an Inter Milan supporter punched his table in frustration sending cutlery flying onto the floor, screamed "bastardo" as the room fell silent before walking out to gather his thoughts.
When he returned moments after Filippo Inzaghi's goal had copper-fastened AC Milan's sixth European Cup since Inter won the last of theirs in 1965, his thoughts were lucid enough to sum up the club's frustrations.
"Last season we won Serie A by a record, a record," he snarled as his girlfriend stared at the wall in the manner of somebody who'd heard this refrain once or twice already. "And now, they win in Europe again and people think a Serie A title does not mean shit."
It is in such a climate in which Inter face into Tuesday's game against Liverpool at the San Siro having, finally, watched their city rivals go of age against Arsenal and with a chance to gain some of the respect they crave.
Five minutes and two freakish goals at Anfield three weeks ago changed the complexion of the tie after Inter scrapped for an hour with 10 men but manager Roberto Mancini remains upbeat about their chances.
"We need three goals to qualify and clearly this side is capable of it," insisted Mancini. "Liverpool did not create much in the first leg, but kept us under pressure. Unfortunately the last five minutes proved decisive. But I still think we can do it."
The absence of live Italian football from our television screens has led to Serie A being viewed through the prism of the Champions League. It is because of such an outlook that Milan have been seen as the standard bearers for Italian game despite winning one league title in nine years while Inter's credentials are dismissed for their failure to make an impact on the European stage.
Oddly, the reverse logic seems to apply to Liverpool where European success is somehow less worthy because of their failure to sustain the Premiership push past February. Like Milan, Liverpool have won one and lost one Champions League final in the past three years while struggling desperately to re-live former glories on the domestic front; unlike Milan, this does not seem to be enough.
"I am not going to pretend that even winning the Champions League will make up for the disappointment of the league campaign," admitted Steven Gerrard a fortnight ago, although since then there has been something of a revival.
Against Bolton and West Ham, Rafael Benitez started with the same midfield along with Fernando Torres and was rewarded with seven goals with one conceded. His critics will argue this proves the folly of his earlier rotation, the manager will argue that his players are now fresh because of such a system.
The return to form and fitness of Xabi Alonso has also been important with the Spaniard responding to Benitez' demand that he must "work harder to earn his place back" and his central midfield partnership with Javier Mascherano and Gerrard has given Liverpool a balance they've lacked since the early months of the season.
The trio were disbanded because of Mascherano's injury against Newcastle yesterday but Benitez will be anxious for the return of the Argentine on Tuesday. Against the team that invented catenaccio, it is the 23-year-old that provides Liverpool's padlock which they will need to cope with an early Inter onslaught.
At Anfield, Inter's attacking forays were severely curtailed as they chased possession following a rare harsh red card for Marco Materazzi and while it is not in the Italian football nature to be gung-ho, Inter will become a threat if Liverpool surrender the initiative by playing with a mindset for keeping the score down.
The second legs of Liverpool's last four European knock-out games have been at Anfield so, this represents new ground. However, Benitez will use the last time they travelled to Italy in similar circumstances as a template.
On their way to winning the 2005 trophy, Liverpool led 2-1 from the first leg against Juventus and, in Turin, produced a poised display to earn a goalless draw despite such galacticos as Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez and Igor Biscan in their starting line-up.
As part of their centenary celebrations, Inter have been reminiscing about their victory in 1965 -- they lost the first leg of their semi-final 3-1 at Anfield before hammering three goals without reply in the return fixture. In those days, Inter had the kind of respect that today's generation envy and, if they can make history repeat itself, will finally establish themselves on the Champions League's collective conscience.
If not, it might be wise not to sit too close to any of their supporters.
When he returned moments after Filippo Inzaghi's goal had copper-fastened AC Milan's sixth European Cup since Inter won the last of theirs in 1965, his thoughts were lucid enough to sum up the club's frustrations.
"Last season we won Serie A by a record, a record," he snarled as his girlfriend stared at the wall in the manner of somebody who'd heard this refrain once or twice already. "And now, they win in Europe again and people think a Serie A title does not mean shit."
It is in such a climate in which Inter face into Tuesday's game against Liverpool at the San Siro having, finally, watched their city rivals go of age against Arsenal and with a chance to gain some of the respect they crave.
Five minutes and two freakish goals at Anfield three weeks ago changed the complexion of the tie after Inter scrapped for an hour with 10 men but manager Roberto Mancini remains upbeat about their chances.
"We need three goals to qualify and clearly this side is capable of it," insisted Mancini. "Liverpool did not create much in the first leg, but kept us under pressure. Unfortunately the last five minutes proved decisive. But I still think we can do it."
The absence of live Italian football from our television screens has led to Serie A being viewed through the prism of the Champions League. It is because of such an outlook that Milan have been seen as the standard bearers for Italian game despite winning one league title in nine years while Inter's credentials are dismissed for their failure to make an impact on the European stage.
Oddly, the reverse logic seems to apply to Liverpool where European success is somehow less worthy because of their failure to sustain the Premiership push past February. Like Milan, Liverpool have won one and lost one Champions League final in the past three years while struggling desperately to re-live former glories on the domestic front; unlike Milan, this does not seem to be enough.
"I am not going to pretend that even winning the Champions League will make up for the disappointment of the league campaign," admitted Steven Gerrard a fortnight ago, although since then there has been something of a revival.
Against Bolton and West Ham, Rafael Benitez started with the same midfield along with Fernando Torres and was rewarded with seven goals with one conceded. His critics will argue this proves the folly of his earlier rotation, the manager will argue that his players are now fresh because of such a system.
The return to form and fitness of Xabi Alonso has also been important with the Spaniard responding to Benitez' demand that he must "work harder to earn his place back" and his central midfield partnership with Javier Mascherano and Gerrard has given Liverpool a balance they've lacked since the early months of the season.
The trio were disbanded because of Mascherano's injury against Newcastle yesterday but Benitez will be anxious for the return of the Argentine on Tuesday. Against the team that invented catenaccio, it is the 23-year-old that provides Liverpool's padlock which they will need to cope with an early Inter onslaught.
At Anfield, Inter's attacking forays were severely curtailed as they chased possession following a rare harsh red card for Marco Materazzi and while it is not in the Italian football nature to be gung-ho, Inter will become a threat if Liverpool surrender the initiative by playing with a mindset for keeping the score down.
The second legs of Liverpool's last four European knock-out games have been at Anfield so, this represents new ground. However, Benitez will use the last time they travelled to Italy in similar circumstances as a template.
On their way to winning the 2005 trophy, Liverpool led 2-1 from the first leg against Juventus and, in Turin, produced a poised display to earn a goalless draw despite such galacticos as Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez and Igor Biscan in their starting line-up.
As part of their centenary celebrations, Inter have been reminiscing about their victory in 1965 -- they lost the first leg of their semi-final 3-1 at Anfield before hammering three goals without reply in the return fixture. In those days, Inter had the kind of respect that today's generation envy and, if they can make history repeat itself, will finally establish themselves on the Champions League's collective conscience.
If not, it might be wise not to sit too close to any of their supporters.
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utusanLFC :
When Inter beat Liverpool with 3 goals, only then I'd agree with you!
hahaha impossiblito mamamia!
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