Barca bow to Jose’s Inter mission

“THE Translator” returned to the Nou Camp last night, inflicting a staggering 3-2 aggregate defeat upon Barcelona after playing with only 10 men for over an hour and generating simmering controversy before bringing Inter Milan to the brink of their first European crown since 1965.

Jose Mourinho, known disparagingly by that moniker after his time with Barcelona as interpreter to Bobby Robson, masterminded an astonishing success that featured growing animosity between the two sides and which culminated on the final whistle with him sprinting across the field and becoming engaged in a shoving match with home goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

The pivotal moment of the tie appeared likely to be the 27th minute dismissal of Inter’s midfielder Thiago Motta, a difficult task for the Italians becoming instantly more arduous.