Mourihno has kept Inter at the top and retained the Serie A title two games before the end of the season on a weekend which saw Barcelona win La Liga and United make it three Premier Leagues in a row. Mourihno now adds to his impressive CV a second Italian trophy after winning the Italian Supercup and has made as big an impact on Serie A since his arrival in June 2008, as he on English football with Chelsea .
Nine English lads boarded the Fedelissimi coach to Milan at 14.30 for a 20.30 kick-off. One 'ultra' pointed out that there were more English onboard today than Italians. It seemed that a chance to beat the newly crowned champions in the San Siro was not enough to pull the Sienese faithful away from their lounge. Most were content to follow the proceedings on their TV sets and the monopoly that is Sky Italia. I estimate less than a hundred of us.
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, or the San Siro as it is more commonly known, is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive stadiums I have ever seen in my life. I have now visited the biggest stadiums in Italy (where Napoli, Juve, Roma and Fiorentina play) as well as the the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Old Trafford in Manchester, Maracanã in Rio De Janeiro and Wembley in London.
But none of them compare to the San Siro. It really is a giant of a stadium. On a night where 80,000 Inter fans were celebrating even before kick off, it is quite remarkable and unlike any other stadium in the world.
Before the game began the choreography, impressive display of banners and flags were a sight to behold for any football fan. Siena's manager, Giampaolo, vowed not to be pushovers in this game and to be fair to him Siena began the game convincingly, seemingly unaffected by the off the field celebrations, the crowd or the deafening chants.
'Chi non salta rossonero' (whoever doesn't jump is an AC Milan fan) was undoubtedly the crowd's favourite and had literally every Inter fan jumping.
Our striker, Calaio, had a few efforts on goal whereas Inter were looking almost lethargic and treating the game as a formality more than anything else. Within three minutes he had a shot brilliantly saved by Inter's Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar.
The first goal came a minute before half time. Heartbreak for Siena and all of us, all the travelling fans. It was disappointing given all of Siena's efforts at closing Inter down. Stankovic's long range effort was saved by our no.1 Curci but Cambiasso was in the right place at the right time as he nonchalantly rifled it in from the edge of the box.
Then Inter begin to feel more comfortable with a one goal cushion and started playing some really good football. In the 53rd minute Luis Figo produced an exquisite long ball over Siena's defence into Mario Balotelli's feet who found himself one-on-one with Curci and side-stepped him to pass the ball into the net. The eighteen year old scored his eighth goal of the season and looks like he has a bright future ahead of him despite the controversy surrounding him.
The huge task of beating Inter, unbeaten at home for 115 games, now looked impossible. Nonetheless Siena still attacked and tried to get something from the game. Del Grosso's cross found Calaio but his header bounced off the post.
Then came some incredible scenes as Ibrahimovic sat on the pitch and seemed to sulk. He even had the nerve to ask Mourihno to be substituted off, without any obvious injury. For "the world's best striker" and second highest scorer in Serie A, behind only Bologna's Marco Di Vaio, he does sometime prove to be very unprofessional.
Mourihno does not grant Ibra's wish but does substitute Figo who is rewarded with a standing ovation (clearly something Ibra was hoping for) and on comes the young attacking right back Davide Santon. Next sub: Mancini on for Balotelli. It seems Mourihno wants to prove a point to his Swedish striker that he's the boss, no one else.
Siena's midfielder Coppolla, who came on for Codrea in the 46th minute had a shot from outside the box hit the woodwork. Siena seemed destined not to find the back of the net.
So, just as with the second goal Inter break and counter attack to eventually punish Siena for their efforts. This time Ibrahimovic hit a low shot with his left foot through Curci's legs. He barely celebrates, visibly still sulking but that is just Ibrahimovic for you. Last standing ovation goes to keeper Cesar, who not only has had a brilliant game but an impeccable season, as he is replaced by reserve keeper Paolo Orlandoni.
There is no doubt Inter merit the win and deserve to be champions but Siena deserve credit too. Siena fans were urged to left the stadium before the fireworks and celebrations really kicked off.
As I ran pass supporters trying to get into the stadium I couldn't help but smile at how many of them wore t-shirts which read- 'The Special One' written on one side and 'zero tituli' on the other. Mourihno had amused most of the footballing community with his comments in a pre-match press conference on Friday of how Milan, Juve and all Inter's rivals had won "zero titles" this season.
He doesn't miss a trick and his provocative and arrogant nature will, I'm sure, continue to divide fans for many many years to come. Its something which football fans and the press in Italy will have to put up with- I cannot say I envy them.
From il vostro corrispondente,
JB
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