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Marco Materazzi “Inter crazy? Maybe, but…”
On his official website Matrix had this to say on comments made by Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger….
“Inter crazy? Maybe, but if this is what crazy is then I think it’s fantastic to be Inter – a team that’s capable of pulling off feats like that and being involved in such intense, vibrant matches, just how I like them.
Crazy only up to a certain point, mind: all you have to do is watch the second half again to see that, beyond our unpredictability, first and foremost we had the intelligence and patience to read the game well and wait for the right moment to strike Bayern: not too soon, but not too late. And it was great that Goran Pandev was the one to score the decisive goal, someone who had too often, before yesterday, lost his personal battle with luck.
Yesterday’s victory was crucial from a psychological standpoint, for him and for us all, but there’s no stopping now: on Sunday we’ve got Lecce. The Serie A, not just the Champions League, is there waiting for us.
“I have just a few words for Schweinsteiger, who felt he had to come up with something original and accuse me of provoking. It’s a shame he’d been sounding off for the last two weeks, saying that yesterday evening would be revenge for Madrid; that he was curious to see if we would play like Italians; that he only knows the faces of the AC Milan players. Well, I reckon he knows our faces as well now. And I’m supposed to have been the one doing the stirring – unless he’s referring to the moment when I reminded him that it’s better to wait until you’ve actually won before opening your mouth…”
Location:Milan
Bayern Munich 2-3 Inter, 3-3 Agg. The comeback kings do it again to secure quarter final place
Inter are through to the Champions league quarter finals on away goals after a 3-3 Agg win against Bayern Munich. All I can say about this match that ended 2-3 on the night, is what a game!!! Eto’o opened the scoring for Inter but by half time we were 2-1 down and it was looking like our title defense was in tatters, but Inter being Inter they picked themselves up and came out fighting, Sneijder scoring a low long range effort the Pandev secured the win with a late goal assisted by Eto’o. Inter thus qualify for the quarter-finals after completing a European comeback for the first time since 1993 – an impossible comeback, they said. But with Inter anything is possible.With this win we are one step closer to repeating the back to back European titles of the 60′s and maybe even an unprecidented back to back treble!
FIRST HALF -
Both sides took to the field with a black armband as a sign of respect towards the earthquake victims in Japan, and a huge banner was displayed (“We’re with you Japan”) during the minute’s silence at the beginning of the game.
Bayern’s response came in the form of a Ribery cross finding Gomez yards from goal on 10 minutes, but Ranocchia slid in to make the crucial block just as Gomez pulled the trigger. Inter were still blazing and launching attacks through Eto’o and Sneijder, as in the first leg, a mistake by Julio Cesar brought the Nerazzurri crashing back down to earth: Robben’s long-range blast was fumbled by the Inter keeper and up popped Mario Gomez – again! – to score by lobbing Julio Cesar with his back to goal and make it 1-1. The goal sparked Van Gaal’s side into life and just ten minutes later they had turned the score around: Robben played in a pass looking for Gomez, Thiago Motta got a touch on the ball on the edge of the box but it slipped away from him allowing Muller to run onto it and deftly chip over Julio Cesar: 2-1. In the 35th minute, Julio Cesar came to Inter’s rescue with a superb save from Ribery, pushing the ball just over the bar. On 39 minutes, following Thiago Motta’s freekick, Stankovic was presented with a great chance to equalise but he delayed a fraction too long and Kraft was onto it. A minute later and a quite miraculous goal-line clearance by Ranocchia kept Inter in the game: Ribery’s ball into the box was for Gomez, who slid in and beat Julio Cesar, but the ball bounced along the line for what seemed like an eternity before Ranocchia hacked clear – via Muller’s foot and then the post – into Julio Cesar’s hands. To an almighty sigh of relief from all Inter fans. They were holding their breaths again minutes later when Lucio got himself into a fix trying to clear under pressure from two opponents but the danger was eventually cleared and after one minute of stoppage time the two sides went in for the break.
Then, with more decisiveness, the “Lion King” fed Sneijder, whose magnificent right-footed shot beat Kraft to bring the score to 2-2. Hopes were further reignited when Pandev nearly put Inter ahead in the 67th minute as he chest-trapped Sneijder’s long pass, but the ensuing shot on the turn sailed just over the crossbar. Sneijder came close on 80 minutes after a pass from Eto’o, but his powerful right-footer from outside the box was saved.
Hope never died and in the 88th minute Pandev sent the Nerazzurri fans around the world into rapture by connecting with a pass from Eto’o and blasting the ball into the top corner with a left-footed strike. The Macedonian triggered a Nerazzurri explosion of joy inside the Allianz Arena with his goal that sent Inter to the quarter-finals and closed the game with a 2-3 score line. Only once in the history of the Champions League had a team overcome a first-leg loss at home.
“Explaining this match tonight is going to be very difficult,” continued the Nerazzurri coach. “We won and it was a victory with all of our hearts. A very well-organized match: we found the back of the net after three minutes, but various incidents led to a lot of problems in which everything went Bayern’s way. We lost our equilibrium, we tried to take control of the game again, then we let in another goal. We settled down and then, as I said, it was all heart. And Pandev, what can I say? I’m thrilled for him because he’s been going through a difficult period.”
“It was a strange game. It had moments that were completely different from one to the next, first manageable, then dangerous. In the second half we controlled the game well once again and then, when the team felt sure of themselves again, they sealed the win. Julio Cesar? When a goalkeeper makes an error like that it’s an accident. You can’t ever judge him because he then goes on to make incredible saves, just as he did tonight. Pandev wasn’t in the game tonight, but the god of football is strange… Good for him, though, because otherwise it would have been a disaster [smiling]. The team has personality, character and is very united; even when things go wrong this team knows how to turn it around. In the quarters we’ll get Barcelona – again [smiling]. Does Leonardo deserve a ten for this game? I think so, also because during the game it was truly tough from a psychological standpoint and he was fantastic.”
Cambiasso
Julio Cesar
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Julio Cesar analysed the game and his mistake on Bayern’s first goal: “That was a terrible moment. When I let that in I just wanted to disappear immediately, go back to Milan – on foot, on horseback, whatever – but then I pulled myself together. The goal was like a cold shower, but thanks to my team-mates we got back into it. I really must congratulate them. Still, you learn from your mistakes. I messed up tonight, more than in the first leg for sure, but fortunately we’re here now talking about our victory. Afterwards I rolled my sleeves up and got on with it. Which save was the most difficult? Maybe the one from Ribery. What did I do when Pandev scored? I started to cry, I thanked God and my team-mates. I would have been in a really bad way if we’d lost, but these are things that help you become more mature. Let’s hope that’s the end of the mistakes now.”
Thiago Motta
“We knew that it would be a tough match, but we believed it was possible and we did it. We believe in our game because we have strength and determination inside us. The teams in the quarter-finals? All of the teams that make it there are strong. Now we’re thinking of the Serie A. And I’ll say one thing: Italians should be happy tonight, because an Italian team in the quarter-finals is important for Italian football as a whole.”
Cristian Chivu
Tonight’s game against Bayern Munich also included a protagonist’s role for Cristian Chivu, who gave his comments to Inter Channel on the victory that won the team a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League: “It was a good game, we suffered a bit, but we played as Inter should. We were aware of what we were going to face and how we could do it. We did it in the best possible way and now we can be happy and celebrate because this was the only thing we wanted.”
Andrea Ranocchia
“It turned out all right in the end and I’m happy I was able to save that goal. I felt some incredible emotions out there tonight: to come here and turn the tie around, especially after going behind on the night as well, wasn’t easy. But we put a lot of heart into it and managed to pull it off. If we keep working like this, we have a great chance of doing well, in every competition.”
Goran Pandev
And last but not least the hero of the hour-
Champions League Preview: Bayern Munich v Inter Milan
Interviews
Leonardo
“I’ve watched our last few matches and Bayern’s at least three times – you’ve got to study every detail. But every match has its own story, one that depends above all on a team’s form. You have to hit the best form at the right time.” These were Leonardo’s opening words at the press conference on the eve of Bayern Munich v Inter.
“The players are really up for this one,” he went on, “they’re looking forward to the night. It’s always a privilege to play in matches like this, which are like finals, but it’s even better to win them. This is the atmosphere the lads are living through, they know the historical importance of these games.”
“The first leg could have produced a different result, so it would be no surprise if Inter won this one. Tomorrow night we’ll be starting on level terms and I’m optimistic because I know the strength and spirit of this group.”
Leonardo is asked whether he thinks it would be best to plan to hit them on the break. “It’s not a question of best or worst, you should always take the match as it comes, so there’s no set scheme. Bayern have played their last matches with a virtually unchanged team and the same system of play, but we’re a well-drilled outfit too, so we’re optimistic.”
Massimo Moratti
During an interview outside his offices on the eve of this crucial match, Inter president Massimo Moratti answered questions from the press on Inter’s chances against Bayern and his reaction to last weekends league games, here’s what he had to say –
How much do you believe in Inter overturning the deficit against Bayern?
“We believe we can do it, absolutely. Also because we did well in the game in Milan. We made a mistake only in the last minute, but otherwise we were set out well and so I hope we can do the same there – but with the result going our way this time.”
Even if we get the one away goal we can force extra time and give ourselves another 30 minutes to secure the victory, though like everyone else i’m hoping for a straight win in normal time!
What did you tell the players in Appiano Gentile to get them even more motivated?
“There is a much more direct and less official form of dialogue compared to in a conference. I think they understand, they are all mature and with the necessary personal experience to understand what is required.”
Does the draw between AC Milan and Bari give you a further boost for this game too?
“In terms of morale it is better to go there five points behind instead of seven, as it gives us the feeling we are still involved in the title race. What is negative is Friday’s result, slightly diluted by what happened yesterday.”
We were definitely lucky with AC’s result this weekend but we can’t rely on luck to bail us out they need to learn from their mistakes and do what’s necessary to ensure they don’t happen again.
Do you expect to meet Ibrahimovic in the derby?
“I’m sorry for Ibra, but what will be, will be.”
Do you think there might be some strain in the Rossoneri camp? Are they feeling the pressure of having Inter on their heels?
“No, Ibrahimovic’s frustration has nothing to do with that. His was just a reaction, nothing more.”
But it would be strange if Ibrahimovic got to play in the derby, particularly considering what happened to Eto’o and Chivu in similar circumstances…
“You are trying to get me into things that I have no intention of discussing. It will work itself out.”
I’ve just watched the incident they are talking about with Ibra and he should be looking at a 3 match ban the same as Eto’o & Chivu got for their conduct, and if that works to our advantage in the title race then that’s even better, though the likes of Juve & AC Milan always seem to get away with things Inter never could! Maybe that’s because we play fair unlike some, and on that controversial point i’ll get back to the Champions league preview.
Wesley Sneijder
Tomorrow is the big night and, judging by his words and his face, Wesley Sneijder can’t wait. It’s the return leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and the Dutchman was the player chosen by Leonardo to accompany him in the pre-match press conference. Sneijder speaks in English so that he can express the concepts better, and he makes it clear that he and Inter are up for it: “To win we have to score but it’s a 180-minute tie; we lost the first 90 minutes but we’re capable of winning tomorrow evening. This match represents the cream of the Champions League, one of those games that gets the hairs on the back of your neck up. We’re all focused and convinced we can do it.”
Sneijder didn’t want to comment on Van Gaal’s announced June departure from Bayern Munich (“I’m concentrating on Inter”) but he says he is happy to meet up with friends and Netherlands team-mates. And no one is looking back towards Italy: “At the moment we’re focused on Bayern Munich. We think we can overturn the first-leg result and qualify. Only then will we start thinking about the league and AC Milan.”
Interviewed shortly afterwards on the Allianz Arena pitch by Sky Sport Italia’s Massimiliano Nebuloni, Sneijder admitted that he has never played there before, but underlined that “We are a team and we always play as a team. We don’t depend on anyone in particular. We’re confident because we played well in the first leg. It will be difficult but we’re confident. We’ve got to score. They are ahead but you can’t talk about chances of qualifying in terms of percentages. We just have to score and win. And we believe we will.”
So we’re all set for the match tomorrow, and Inter are showing the absolute commitment and belief that they need to beat Bayern and proceed onto the quarter finals.
Massimo Moratti Interview After Bayern Defeat
I have to agree with Moratti, we did play well given we only had two strikers available, one of which is really out of form this season, no offence Pandev but I think we would have had a harder time with him on the pitch!
Do you think Inter can make a comeback in the second leg?
“Inter must score one goal more than they do, then either it goes to penalties or we have won. So it’s not impossible. To some extent it will depend on luck.”
We are definitely still in this game, there’s still at least 90 mins to go in this tie and Inter have come back from being behind plenty of times this season so I’m confident we can get the result in Germany
Compared with the Champions League final played in Madrid last May against Bayern Munich, did you miss Milito or Mourinho more?
“I was missing a centre forward who could give the team depth. Inter have had to change their game a little to suit this type of play. They expressed themselves well on the pitch and showed they could be dangerous, but it’s obvious that this was a good opportunity.”
As much we all miss Mourinho we have to agree that Leonardo is doing a great job for us, but I have to agree with Moratti we needed another striker up front with Eto’o. There were a few times during the game where Eto’o looked stranded up front alone. But at least this is only a temporary problem as we have got quality strikers it was just unfortunate that Pazzini is cup tied and Milito is injured.
If you had to criticise Inter last night, what didn’t you like?
“I haven’t had time to analyse it yet, but I must say that we were all disappointed with the result, though not with how the team played.”
The team played very well given the situation, it wasn’t an easy game but we held our own, we were just unlucky to concede the last minute goal
Did you like the team that Leonardo picked?
“It was the right team to play, I wouldn’t have chosen a different line-up.”
In my opinion he was right to choose that team, as I said before if he had put Pandev up front with Eto’o it wouldn’t have helped with him being so out of form
On Sunday evening Inter take on Sampdoria and can’t let up, especially because AC Milan have to play Napoli…
“For one day we’ll think about yesterday’s defeat, even if it won’t be easy. Against Sampdoria we’ll have a striker like Pazzini and then we’ll see.”
We need a win against Sampdoria to keep the pressure on Milan but we need some luck to get a draw in the Milan v Napoli game
Yesterday Julio Cesar seemed a bit unsure of himself.
“He’s a goalkeeper who has worked miracles for us in goal, every now and again you can make a mistake. It isn’t a serious problem.”
Following the three defeats suffered by Inter, AC Milan and Roma do you think the state of Italian football can be defined as worrying, or are these three isolated events?
“We are talking about three different teams who played against different opponents, none of whom were easy. Whenever we lose everyone is crying doom and gloom, then, when we win, we are the best in the world. If we didn’t take things to heart so much we might be able to move ahead more efficiently.”
How can anyone say the state of Italian football is worrying? Inter won 5 trophies last season a feat that only a handful of clubs in the world have achieved! If that’s something to worry about i think it’s time for football to call it a day. No team in the world can win every single game they play it’s just not possible especially in European competitions
- Posted by The Nerazzurri Outlaw
Champions League round of 16 leg 1
Inter 0-1 Bayern Munich
Scorer: 90 Gomez
Lineups
Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 15 Ranocchia (14 Kharja, 74), 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 5 Stankovic, 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto’o.
Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 17 Mariga, 23 Materazzi, 27 Pandev, 55 Nagatomo, 29 Coutinho,
Coach: Leonardo
Bayern Monaco: 35 Kraft; 21 Lahm, 44 Tymoshchuk, 28 Badstuber, 23 Pranjic (2 Breno, 38); 30 Gustavo, 31 Schweinsteiger; 10 Robben, 25 Mueller, 7 Ribery; 33 Gomez.
Subs: 1 Butt, 5 Van Buyten,16 Ottl, 8 Altintop, 39 Kroos, 18 Klose.
Coach: Luis Van Gaal.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Booked: 21 Zanetti, 34 Ribery, 56 Sneijder, 88 Thiago Motta, 88 Gustavo.
The Match
For Nerazzurri fans the words ‘Inter’ and ‘Bayern’ in the same sentence bring back memories of Madrid on that special night – one of triumph, of joy, of tears; a night Inter fans had awaited for many years and will always be close to the hearts of all Interista for the rest of our lives. But that’s all history. Now the Nerazzurri once again needed to show they are contenders for the title again and produce the goods when it really matters. It wasn’t to be this time though as the joy is Bayern Munich’s, after the German side won the first leg of the 2010/11 Champions League round-of-16 clash by a single goal. In the 89th minute Gomez ruined what had been a close game after Inter had gone very close on several occasions. All is not lost yet, though. The tie continues on 15 March at the Allianza Arena.
First Half
On his Champions League debut in the Inter dugout, Leonardo fielded a 4-3-2-1 formation with Stankovic and Sneijder in support of Eto’o. The game was just a minute old when the Nerazzurri were given a freekick for a foul on Eto’o; Sneijder picked out Ranocchia in the box and the defender hooked a right-footed volley just wide of Kraft’s left-hand upright. Bayern were in the game as well and the Inter defence had to be on their toes in the 12th minute: first Lucio blocked Ribery’s shot, then Ranocchia defended well to keep out Mueller. In the 18th minute Maicon hit a great cross towards Stankovic but Kraft came out to scoop the ball away from the Serbian’s head, while back down the other end, on 20 minutes, Gustavo struck a vicious long-range shot inches wide. Inter then had a decent penalty shout as Tymoshchuk appeared to bring down Eto’o in the box, but the referee saw nothing wrong. The Cameroonian wasn’t to be discouraged, though, and he looked dangerous every time he got the ball. After 23 minutes he did extremely well to set up Cambiasso in front of goal, but the Argentinian’s shot from a wide angle was blocked by the keeper. A minute later Robben crossed for Ribery, whose header struck the bar. Gomez had another good chance to give the Germans the lead on 29 minutes when he connected with Lahm’s low cross, but he skied his effort. Inter went close themselves in the 33rd minute, with Eto’o again involved: Lucio’s first-time cross was picked up in the centre by Inter’s top scorer, who managed to find space for himself despite the attentions of two defenders and get a low shot in; Kraft showed quick reflexes to get down and push clear. On 37 minutes Maicon sent Eto’o away towards goal, but Badstuber was back to block with a sliding challenge. With a minute of first-half stoppage time already signalled, Maicon burst through the Bayern back line and smashed a rising angled drive just wide. The sides went into the break after a goalless first 45 minutes.
Second Half
No changes were made during the break and Bayern were soon looking dangerous again, as Robben’s curled cross was flicked just wide by Mueller. Seven minutes into the half Ribery began a splendid move for the Bavarian side, which ended with Robben’s diagonal run and shot against the outside of the post. In the 57th minute Inter had perhaps their best chance to take the lead: Maicon’s cross was chested and neatly controlled by Eto’o, who unleashed a half-volley at Kraft; the rebound fell to Cambiasso but he could only direct his effort over the bar. That prompted an immediate response from Bayern as Robben went on another jinking run before rifling over the bar. Ranocchia was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher after 73 minutes, having gone to the ground with a knee problem. He was replaced by Kharja and the Moroccan almost made an instant impact: his angled shot was kept out by Kraft and the ball rolled across the goal but there was no black-and-blue shirt on hand to poke home. Lahm made a risky sliding tackle on Eto’o in the 82nd minute, though it was deemed fair by the Hungarian referee and only a corner was awarded. From another corner, with 5 minutes of normal time remaining, Sneijder found Thiago Motta, whose powerful header was kept out by Kraft on the line. The Nerazzurri went close again in the 88th minute when Eto’o fired goalwards through a crowd, the ball taking a deflection and going just wide. As Inter seemed be turning the screw and about to score, Bayern grabbed a winner: Robben’s bouncing left-footed drive was saved by Julio Cesar but Gomez swooped on the rebound to stab home from a few yards out. It felt like an ice-cold shower for Inter, who had matched the Germans blow for blow and gone mightily close thorugh Eto’o and Cambiasso. After two minutes of added time, Kassai called a quick end to a painful finale.
Conclusions
All in all Inter played well and gave as good as they got, but for me it showed that for all Eto’os talent Inter play more dangerously when they play with two strikers, I can’t help but wonder if things would have been different if Pazzini had been eligible to play this match? Anyway now Inters Champions League chances rest on the return leg in March and we know the Nerazzurri will fight with all their might to stay in the competition and defend their title.
Club Reactions
Leonardo
“We didn’t deserve to lose this one. We conceded a goal that came right out of the blue. A nil-all draw would have been a fairer result considering the chances they had and the chances we had,” was Leonardo’s comment at the end of the tie with Bayern Munich.
Moratti
“We were very unlucky. It wasn’t easy playing with only one centre-forward and yet the team played some decent football and showed good movement. We don’t need to pull off a miracle; we only need to win 1-0. We can win 1-0 out there and have every chance of getting through. If we head to Munich with confidence, I don’t see why we can’t get a good result. Ranocchia? We’ll have to see; let’s hope it’s nothing serious.”
Zanetti
“The final score hurts and it’s a huge shame because I think we showed how much we wanted to win this game and how important the Champions League still is to us.”
For now though Inters attention returns to the league and their next game on Sunday against Sampdoria.
- Posted by The Nerazzurri Outlaw
Location:Milan
