Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich to be crowned the Champions of Europe. iSporter Chirag Mansukhani reports on the Champions League Final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich from the Santiago Bernabeu.
It's been a terrific season and an even better end to the UEFA Champions League. Few would have predicted an Inter Milan - Bayern Munich final. However, they are arguably the best two teams in Europe this season. After all we have to remember that both these teams before the finals were on course for a treble. A double is no small feat after all it is hard enough to win one trophy a season. So having taken that into consideration both these teams deserve to be in the finals and there isn't much that one can say to argue against that.
Both the coaches have done a fine job with their teams this season. Mourinho's men have been the team to beat all season long in the Serie A and while they have never been the favourites for the Champions league their form and they sheer guile in which they have pursued the Champions league title speaks volumes of their quality and determination. Mourinho has a particular style of playing football which is not always attractive but nine times out of ten it will produce the desired result. Love him or hate him he is definitely one of the best managers in world football today.
Louis Van Gaal has achieved no small feat this season either. He was brought in to bring Bayern back on the European map and perhaps more importantly to chase their league title which eluded them last season. Van Gaal has proved more than worthy leading Bayern to their league title as well as the German F.A. Cup.
Both these coaches know each other very well as they worked together for a period of three years and Mourinho was at one time an apprentice of Van Gaal. There is certainly a lot of respect that both Managers have for each other, although which one would have the last laugh on the biggest stage in Europe was something that was eagerly awaited.
Inter Milan who have not gone into most matches in the Champions league as favourites probably went into this match with a slight edge having beaten the mighty Barcelona. We also mustn't forget they they have tamed the likes of Chelsea as well earlier on in the competition.
Bayern on the other hand have knocked out Juventus and the mighty Manchester United and came into the finals confident and feeling good about themselves. Though it has to be said that the experience and sheer quality of the suspended Franck Ribery was dearly missed.
It was Milito who put Inter Milan ahead in this all important tie. Milito has scored in the final league match giving victory to Inter in the Serie A. It was Milito again that scored in the Italian Cup and now it was none other than Milito who put the Italian champions ahead.
While Julio Cesar was clearly the busier of the two keepers during the first half, Inter showed great charisma and quality in getting their goal and playing to their game plan.
Arjen Robben was silent for most of the first half. With Ribery out of the game suspended, Inter decided to single out Robben and kept him rather quiet in the first half.
Bayern Munich had a couple of decent half chances which they couldn't make the most of although there was no clear shot on goal. For Inter Milan Sneijder had a couple of free kicks which he failed to make the most off. All in all a fairly average first forty five minutes with Inter getting the better of Bayern as they went into the second forty five a goal up and were just forty five minutes away from making history.
Come the second half and Bayern Munich were quickly off their feet and had a chance to score just seconds into the second half. Bayern attacked the Inter goal strongly in the first few minutes of the second half while Pandev had a shot of his own saved at the other end just a couple of minutes into the second half. All of a sudden the game seemed to have picked up the tempo as Bayern continued to chase the game with Inter not holding back either.
Bayern had a great chance in the 62nd minute courtesy a Robben free kick but Muller failed to make the most of it. However, Bayern Munich continued to apply pressure on the Inter Milan goal. Robben took another shot in the 63th minute but Cesar came up trumps with a good save. At this point Bayern were throwing all they had at Inter Milan.
Come the 69th minute and it was Diego Milito who drew the curtains and almost certainly shut the doors on any hopes Bayern Munich had when he netted his second of the night to put Inter Milan two goals to the good. Milito was certainly the man of the moment and he has shown that he is truly the man for the big stage.
Bayern brought on Klose and Gomez to try and make an impact. But it was not to be. It was clearly not Bayerns' night and while they did their best to put more pressure on Inter Milan, Inter just soaked up all the pressure. Inter are a strong defensive unit and managed to withstand the pressure with reasonable ease and one felt that Inter were not really threatened by the Bayern charge.
It has to be said that Inter Milan were clearly the better team on the night. It was a truly special night for the special one as he led his team to the Champions league trophy. All said and done a good game of football with Inter being crowned the Champions of Europe and deservedly so. Congratulations to the special on and his Inter Milan team.
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