Mourinho ready to complete Inter mission
Mourinho was tearful after eliminating the West Londoners following a 1-0 win in the last 16 at Stamford Bridge in March, realising he had ruined the dream of many of his close friends.
“At Stamford Bridge I cried because during the 90 minutes I wasn’t thinking that I was playing against friends, but after the game I realised that my friends were out of the competition,” he reflected ahead of tonight’s final.
“But that was crucial for Inter, without that victory we wouldn’t be here today — it was a difficult emotional situation,” he added.
Victory over Bayern at the Santiago Bernabeu is likely to produce tears of a different kind, however, and Mourinho would be proud to see Inter boss Moratti turn on the waterworks after a 45-year European Cup drought.
“Defeat or victory, it will be unforgettable, but Moratti is a very special person for me,” he said.
“I would love to see him cry (with joy), I would love to see him with the cup in his hands, I would love to see him in a picture next to his father; I would love to give my little contribution to help make that happen,” he explained.
Inter’s current boss is son of Angelo Moratti, who led the Italians to back-to-back European Cup titles in the 1960s. Success was hard to come by initially under Moratti Jnr, but recent times have been more prosperous, especially this season.
The “little contribution” of Mourinho has already seen the Milanese outfit capture the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia this season, but the Portuguese coach knows today’s final is the big one.
“45 years is 45 years — it’s a long time,” he said.
“Many of Inter’s fans cannot remember that far back and many were not even born when the club last won the European Cup.
“The Champions League final is always important and you want to win it even if you won it last year, but I imagine for these fans it will be even more special,” he added.
Even though the Portuguese has had a bumpy ride in his time in Italy so far, he claims nothing would give him greater pleasure than winning a Champions League title for Inter.
“It’s a special club with a special president and special fans, and I want to be part of that,” he said.
But the ‘Special One’ was his usual colourful self and reserved a wicked taunt for Bayern, who have already celebrated two domestic titles of their own.
“Bayern had the party and the bus (celebration),” he said. “We haven’t had a party or a bus.”
Mourinho insists he has made no decision over his future amid widespread speculation linking him to Real Madrid.
The Portuguese admitted this week that he would one day love to coach Madrid, while he is no stranger to leaving clubs after winning the Champions League title having swapped Porto for Chelsea soon after clinching the crown in 2004.
However, whereas Mourinho said he knew the 2004 final in Gelsenkirchen would be his final match in charge of Porto, he insists that is not the case today.
“When the match finishes I can’t say that it’s going to be my last match,” he said.
“Maybe three or four days from now or a week from now a decision will be taken.
“I am thinking of nothing other than tomorrow’s game.”
Meanwhile Inter striker Samuel Eto’o pointed to combative midfielder Mark van Bommel as Bayern’s “decisive weapon”.
Eto’o has first-hand experience of Van Bommel’s talent having played alongside the Dutchman at Barcelona, and warned the Bayern skipper be prove the difference.
“He is a real champion,” Eto’o said. “He’s a warrior, he gives everything. He’s a decisive weapon for his team.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
