Internazionale Main Thread III

[Totally FRANK]

Milan ain't big enough for both Mourinho and Balotelli

Wednesday 31 March 2010 16:39
Pride comes before the fall and Inter are in danger of tumbling over the precipice thanks to an ever-deepening rift between Jose Mourinho and Mario Balotelli.
It seems more than likely that one or the other will depart the club at the end of the season.
Apparently the Portuguese apologised for snapping the youngster’s necklace in the wake of a heated discussion when the player refused to take in a few laps of the pitch at the end of a training session when ordered by one of the coach’s assistances.
However, there has been no act of contrition coming in the other direction and there lies the problem.
What usually happens in Italy when an argument gets out of hand is that it may seem as if all-out war has been declared but by the time you arrive on the scene the respective parties are acting like long-lost family members.

Both will have admitted their guilt and everyone would have moved on for a cup of coffee.
This is plainly not the case between little dictator and troubled teen hence the former’s exile which has now extended to six games following the latest snub for tonight’s Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow.
If Mario would just issue a statement along the lines that he has been acting like a big kid and all that business about donning a Milan shirt for the television cameras was just a bit of fun, but of course not in keeping with a serious professional, which of course he will strive to be now, then with remorse comes forgiveness.
That is the Italian way, but unfortunately, that does not seem likely especially now that Dutch-based uber-agent Carmine “Minoâ€

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

Inter Star Wesley Sneijder Suffers Ankle Injury Against CSKA Moscow - Report
The Dutch international hobbled off the pitch...

By Rick D'Andrea

Alarm bells have started to ring in Milan as Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder hobbled off the pitch with an injured left ankle during his side's slender 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The Dutchman was forced off the pitch holding his ankle whilst he received medical attention. He was able to come back on for the Nerazzurri after a few minutes and play out the remainder of the match.

Scans to be conducted over the coming days will reveal the full extent of the injury, according to ANSA.

Sneijder helped set up the lone goal this evening for Diego Milito . The return leg will be played on April 6 in Moscow.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Well, he was able to continue and he didn't really look injured to me but with Sneijder, you never know. If it's even a minor problem I wouldn't risk him against Bologna even if it costs us all three points.

I forgot to mention how good Stankovic was today; he really showed up after some very poor performances and did a good job.

[Lombardiamia]

Agreed Dejan, Stankovic did play one of his best matches this season. Most of the time we are lost praising Sneijder, but how important Milito is? I was very happy when we got him this summer (even though some of you were a bit sceptical on this move), but I never really imagined he'd be this good.
We missed a great opportunity to have an easier match in the second leg and concentrate better on saturday's match. Well too bad, but all in all it was a good result and a very positive match for us. We are really starting to turning our European performances quite nicely. Last year's fear of CL matches seem so far away now, thanks God..

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Messinterista]

[red]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[RomaShield27]

[Totally FRANK]

[Totally FRANK]

[Totally FRANK]

Balotelli and Mourinho make up
Thursday 1 April, 2010
There are reports that Inter boss Jose Mourinho and Mario Balotelli have made peace ahead of this weekend's match against Bologna.

Last night, Mourinho revealed that he didn't have a problem with Balotelli and that the player's rift is actually with the club.

Perhaps heartened by Mourinho's comments, Balotelli spoke with his Coach this morning, leading the Italian media to speculate whether some sort of a peace had been struck.

Balotelli's name is now expected to be in Inter's squad for Bologna's visit to San Siro on Saturday.

The 19-year-old striker has been absent for six games, prompting a flurry of reports about his long-term future at the club.

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Tough call Shield.

Frank, it would be a brave man to change a winning formula. That formation has beaten Chelsea away and dominated Moscow at home so it would probably be my first choice but we've got quite a few options if we need them; Stankovic as an AM, Balo will most likely be in the squad if he and Mou have patched things up, a trident with Pandev, Chivu at LB and Zanetti in midfield etc. But like you, I hope Sneijder is fit enough to play because we're at our best only when he's on the pitch.

[Totally FRANK]

Balotelli makes formal apology
Thursday 1 April, 2010
Mario Balotelli has released a formal apology for his recent behaviour on Inter's official website.

The 19-year-old striker has been excluded from Inter's last six match squads after a dispute with the club.

He was seen talking to Inter boss Jose Mourinho this morning, increasing speculation that they had patched things up.

Balotelli is now expected to return to the fold for this weekend's match against Bologna.

“I am sorry for the situation that has been created recently,â€

[Lombardiamia]

Jose Mourinho Resigns As Coach Of Inter To Take Over At Real Madrid‘The Special One’ has sensationally quit the Nerazzurri for the Blancos…

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has sent shockwaves through the world of football by resigning as coach of Inter, and revealing he will be the next coach of Real Madrid.

Mourinho has cited a number of reasons for his decision to leave the Serie A leaders. They include his troubled relationship with the Italian media, his recent falling out with Mario Balotelli, the discovery that his home telephone had been bugged by club president Massimo Moratti, as well as an “offer he couldn’t refuseâ€

[zafferano]

Lomba no wander many time you talk crap ,
your brain is contaminated and now you
collect all the media pollution around and
bring it in this forum .the problem is you reid
so much of it that end up believing
and many believe as much as you do .,

[Totally FRANK]

Briz, the article was an April Fool's prank on goal.com .

[Totally FRANK]

Milito goal the perfect first step on march to Moscow

Thursday 01 April 2010 16:52
It was the one, two or maybe even three goals that got away at the San Siro on Wednesday evening.
Inter should be heading to Moscow with progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League all but ensured.
Instead of which, all they have to show for their numerous chances is a single strike from Diego Milito against a physical but bland-looking CSKA Moscow – much like the eastern-European hitmen in the Bourne movies they never threatened to deliver the killer blow.
It was the occasion rather than the opposition that drew an almost full house which was in full voice as the home side swept forward - no doubt on the back of Jose Mourinho’s plea for affection after claiming that no one in Italy likes him.

Internazionale, as the name suggests, has never been concerned where their coach, players or even fans come from so as chances fell and were then squandered by an Argentine, a Serb, a Dutchman and a Macedonian those in the stands were united in feeling that it was going to be one of those evenings.
When the breakthrough finally arrived, it was once again the ‘Prince’ who made his bow with a goal that was equal if not better than the precise finish against Chelsea – further out and with no time to hit the ball with any back-lift.
Milito has arrived on Europe’s big stage as something of a late bloomer but the South American is making up for lost time much in the same manner he has on the domestic front.
Each of the 30-year-old’s three goals have helped shape Inter’s progress in the competition: the first in Kiev came when the Nerazzurri were in danger of elimination at the group stage and of course the early goal against Chelsea set the team on their way to conquering the English side over two legs.
The latest goal was not a prelude to a Russian capitulation, coming as it did shortly after the hour-mark, although goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has to take plenty of the credit for keeping CSKA hopes alive – and a few Serie A sides should be keeping close tabs on him.

However, there were enough positives from an Inter side, playing at a much higher tempo than we ever see on the weekends, to suggest that the long march to Moscow will have its ultimate reward of a semi-final berth.
Dejan Stankovic was back to his muscular best, snuffing out any opposition threat before it could gain momentum - and the injury-prone midfielder can now rest up for next Tuesday.
Wesley Sneijder regained his composure on the ball after a hot and bothered performance in Rome while Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev dovetailed perfectly with the majestic Milito.
CSKA will obviously be a much more dangerous side going forward on their artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium but Mourinho demonstrated at Stamford Bridge that his men can form a resistance movement to ambush any opponent that strays too far into Nerazzurri territory.
There is no reason to head East and settle on defending a one-goal lead – not with the personnel available and a striker like Milito to inflict a decisive away goal.