Internazionale Main Thread III

[Totally FRANK]

What a horror show by Cordoba. Forgetting the red card, what was he thinking heading the ball towards our goal. Even though it was a pretty horrible individual mistake, the blame rests on the team for not scoring a second goal. We were pretty poor in the second half, easily conceding possession and no cohesion in attack. Even then we created 3-4 good chances and we should have converted at least one.

If Milan win against Bari at home, which I am pretty sure they will then its over. It was always going to be tough making a comeback after a pathetic first half of the season, we must at least consolidate second place and automatic qualification for the champions league. On top of that more incentive to give it our all against Bayern.

[Lombardiamia]

Is it correct to say now that our only chance of winning something is the Coppa Italia?

No matter, I just hope this year serves everyone to put in more determination in their duties for next year....and that includes everyone, from the small supporter like ourselves to the very top of the club. This year seemed like a year off from day 1.

[Totally FRANK]

Yes, Coppa Italia is our only chance. To be fair, I would have taken second place in the league if you had asked me before December. I would have also liked us to at least reach the quarters in the CL but that looks unlikely as well.

We need more youngsters in this team. I am sorry to say that even though the likes of Cordoba and Matrix have been great servants for the club we can't rely on them any longer, even to come on as a sub. Youngsters would also bring more competition and determination to this team, a team which has won everything and will also keep their experienced counterparts on their toes.

[Messinterista]

Maybe I am being optimistic but I still feel we have a chance.

[cassano7]

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[RomaShield27]

Wow, what a comeback. Congrats to Inter, delighted you won (for the sake of Italian football, naturally, not you pricks). Bayern shoulda been outta sight at HT, terrible defending by Inter, but you hung in there and played till the end, thats what matters, and got your just rewards. Surely Pandev miss-hit it, though.

[Totally FRANK]

Defensively we were all over the place. Bayern should have scored more but they didn't and our attacking players made it count. Come to think of it, even though Bayern had numerous chances they scored three goals because of two goalkeeping howlers and one deflection. It is not an excuse for our defending in anyway but that's a fact (Do I sound like Benitez? ).

Eto'o was exceptional once again, I can't imagine where we would be without his numerous goals and assists this season. Having said that we need Milito back. Not only for his brilliant runs and hold up play but also for the interplay and short one-two passes that Senijder and Eto'o can produce when they get the chance to counterattack or run at the opposition defence. I think the game changed when Sneijder moved to a central position after Coutinho came on and he had more space and freedom to play with Eto'o rather than being left isolated on the left wing.

Great night for Inter and Italian football. At least it went some way in proving that Italian football is not lagging behind German football and the Germans don't deserve an extra place in the CL at the cost of Italy.

[Messinterista]

wow, just wow. Before the match I would have been happy if we threw the match because the Serie A is much more critical, and I don't want AC breaking our domination nor do I want to see Zlatan lift the title. But now we are in the top 8 of Europe! It will be a miracle if we go further, but then again we have made it this far. We are 5 points away from AC and still in the coppa as well. We really do have a world class team to have rallied together after the disastrous start we had to this season.

As Frank said, this truly is a great night for Inter and Italian football. How many German teams are left in the premier club competition? Thank you Leo and team for a special season. Even though we haven't won anything yet, we are starting to show signs of stability again, which is important.

[vtec]

you have to have a pretty good team in order to undo four months of benitez damage so well.

[Messinterista]

Leonardo hails Inter's divine intervention

Leonardo thanked God "for letting me experience this feeling tonight" after FC Internazionale Milano's title defence was dramatically resurrected away to FC Bayern München in the last 16.

FC Internazionale Milano coach Leonardo thanked God "for letting me experience this feeling tonight" after the UEFA Champions League holders' dramatic resurrection at FC Bayern München. The defence of a title they won against the German side last May looked over with Bayern leading 3-1 on aggregate at half-time in Bavaria. Yet Wesley Sneijder pulled one back, paving the way for Goran Pandev's 88th-minute winner, leaving home coach Louis van Gaal ruing his side "wanting too much".

Louis van Gaal, Bayern coach
We wanted too much, which is a pity. It's not the first time this has happened: four or five times already this season we have given away a match we should have won and today it happened again. We could have settled matters earlier. Instead Inter are still standing, still have a chance – even if they hardly created any tonight, they did convert them. That's always a possibility in football.

At half-time I told the team that we needed to stay compact and we created many chances even after that. We had one situation where three Bayern players were advancing on one Inter defender and we should have capitalised. Afterwards, we should have stayed compact, but we didn't and ran into trouble. That's what I meant when I warned them not to want too much. We made too many defensive mistakes, conceded too easily.

The players gave their all, which is the criterion for a coach to judge if he is still getting through to the team. They enjoyed the match and so did the fans; now we are all disappointed we lost but we witnessed a good match.

Leonardo, Inter coach
It is very difficult to explain this game – we won, that's all that matters. I don't want to go into technical details now; I prefer to focus on my players' heart. We planned the game very well, scored immediately and played well until the game turned in Bayern's favour. They scored the second and could have had more but we finally managed to reorganise and played a great second half.

We did well, retaining possession and waiting for the best moments to hit them. We created a few opportunities even if we risked conceding as well. I'm so happy for Pandev, who has had a very difficult period. He has been criticised for missing a few chances but he has always continued to work hard and he has been repaid tonight. It's a great moment, a fantastic joy and I can only thank God for letting me experience this feeling tonight.

It's a historic result considering how difficult the game was and how strong our opponents were but we have already done something like this in the league, coming from behind and scoring in the final minutes. It's a sign that these players have great faith in the team, we never give up. The European champions are still standing.

Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague ... tervention

[Lupa]

I had to go out after the first half. Who knew Bayern Munich would do a Roma and throw it away after the 60th minute? Congrats to Inter for coming back for the win (congrats to 'Italian' football).

[Lombardiamia]

It's time for Leonardo to understand that these kind of experiences can only happen at Inter. Honestly, how many times during our 'football life' have we experienced such matches? Complete roller-coaster matches which end up with positive results?
This is what I wanted for this season....reconfirm our status as European giants after last year. A win in the league can be postponed by a year. Winning the CL is highly improbable....but reconfirm all throughout Europe that we are definately a giant club is massive. Now let's hope we dont get Barca or Real Madrid.

[Totally FRANK]

You are right Lomba, we might still end up winning nothing by the end of the season but we showed that we are still up there in Europe. And showed by playing attacking football and breaking the Jose Mourinho mold of being a cagey, defensive team. Again, playing like this may not win us any trophies but watching this Inter play week in week out is exciting and nerve wrecking most of the time. I have to say last time under Jose except against Barca, we were always in control in the other matches and the team always found a way to grind out results. But this team under Leo, leaks so many goals but also scores so many partly thanks to Eto'os great form and it is nice to watch (May be because we are not watching with the expectation that they will go and win a trophy but it is still fun).

[Totally FRANK]

The draw is tomorrow, other than the Spanish duo I would be satisfied with any other draw.

I would like a re-match with Tottenham, the English have been talking a lot about our defeat at White Hart Lane. This would be a chance to set things straight for Inter and for Italy. If not Tottenham then Schalke, beating them would help us with the co-efficients.

[Messinterista]

Oh feck I forgot about Schalke. Yes, we need to take revenge on Tottenham. Everytime you watch a champions league match that has to do with an english team, they refer to tottenham defeating us ffs. TBH, I wont mind Real Madrid. I think we can beat them. Sure their confidence is riding high, but our boys would want to prove something to Jose.

[Lombardiamia]

To be able to play against a Mourinho team, you need to be exquisitely disciplined tactically, together with having the champs who can change a game with their individual brilliance. We have the latter, but we lack the first. The Spanish clubs IMO are a little out of reach for us. The others on the other hand, we can play on par with.

[Messinterista]

We have the final german team, Schalke! If we manage to defeat Schalke we play the winner of Chelski and Manure.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague ... index.html

[Totally FRANK]

Yes MI, not a bad draw. We don't have to face Barca or Madrid until we get to the final (if we get there).

[Messinterista]

Would really set up a fantastic final against Madrid...

[Lombardiamia]

I should think this was the easiest draw we could pick out of the lot. Even for an eventual semi-final, I'd rather we play Chelsea or Man U rather that Barca or Real. Even though, knowing this team we'd rather have a difficult team to keep the player's concentration high..