by COTR Sun May 23, 2010 10:40 am
José Mourinho spoke of his pride after two goals from Diego Milito clinched FC Internazionale Milano's third European Champion Clubs' Cup, and their first in 45 years, against FC Bayern München at the Santiago Bernabéu. Bayern coach Louis van Gaal felt the difference between the teams was minimal and rued the great chance Thomas Müller missed soon after half-time.
José Mourinho, Inter coach
It was a provocation in a football sense when [Van Gaal] said before the match Inter are a defensive team. But I knew what he wanted and I wanted the same thing – to win. We didn't lose our personality, we're a very compact team and we managed to play and win with counters. After the second goal the match was over.
With Bayern attacking with so many players it was easier for us to control the middle of the pitch and from there we attacked. It's important to have emotional control. We played a beautiful final and we deserved to win, not just for this match but for the whole run to the final.
Inter is an Italian team, with only Italians on the bench, but we are a club with an Italian culture and we are proud to represent Italian football. It is an important victory. Italy are world champions and now also European club champions. It's fantastic and I'm proud to give this little contribution. I like the pressure of Italy. They have this incredible passion for football and for their clubs. That pressure is perhaps the cause of my grey hair but I feel stronger for my time in Italy.
Everyone wants to win [this competition] but few have the privilege of winning and I think it's an even bigger privilege to win it twice. Some have asked if I feel different to how I felt after winning with Porto [in 2004] but I don't feel a major difference. Perhaps I can win again, but I don't think the feeling will be different. I'm the same person with the same feelings: huge joy and happiness, with a tear here and there if I have to leave.
I will always remember this season with Inter. More than the words, it was an incredible marriage between us. [Inter president Massimo Moratti] wanted me a few years ago when I was at Chelsea. When I came maybe he had a feeling I was the one to give him his dream. For so many years he has dreamed of this, to have the same photo his father had with the European Cup and I am very, very happy to give him that.
I am very, very proud right now to be coach of Inter. If you want to win you must be able to build a team. The team must have spirit and work together and that's why I'm proud of Inter. They have worked endlessly to achieve that and everyone from the groundsman to the players on the pitch and even those that did not play a minute are a marvellous family. At all my clubs we have created a family feeling and that's the most important thing.
Louis van Gaal, Bayern coach
It was no surprise to me how the match went. The surprise is we lost. We knew they would play like that. We knew they would be very well organised defensively. We knew Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder could be decisive and that's how it went. We didn't create as many chances as usual. We had chances, but if you don't score you lose. The Müller chance in the second half would have made it a different game.
I shook everyone's hand and for me that is enough, it means I'm proud of my team. You have to be in top shape to succeed against a team like Inter and today we weren't. To attack is much more difficult than to defend and we had to attack in a reduced space. Many German teams do that, but Inter are better at playing that style and have players who can make the difference. It is a choice of playing style and we chose a very difficult way of playing.
Mourinho congratulated me, perhaps he is right, but my feeling is different. I believe Inter won quite rightly and were entitled to it, but perhaps it is easier for him to win by playing this kind of style.
It is always rather simple to say after a defeat that Franck Ribéry was missing. We played against Lyon, Juventus and half the season without him. If you play this style we need a creative player and Franck Ribéry is a very creative player.
Mourinho told German television we won the championship and the cup and that that is a masterpiece. Winning the Champions League is a bonus. You also need a bit of luck. The difference between the teams is not so big.
Home
Anyway, poor and predictable final. Especially after the 1-0 it was over. I felt Bayern really lacked Ribery in this game, everything had to come from Robben tonight and with two wingers Bayern might have had more teeth upfront. But Bayern should be proud of themselves, they had a great season with the squad they are having and with their money im sure it won't be long before they win it.
