Rome, May 18 (DPA) Inter Milan fans remained relatively cool when they retained the Serie A title for a fifth straight time last Sunday with a 1-0 win in Siena.
For many, however, things could go out of control on Saturday if their heroes beat Bayern Munich in Madrid in the final of the Champions League and lift a continental trophy that the Interisti, at least the older ones, have waited for 45 years to see again.
A European victory would also complete an incredible treble that became possible, as it did for Bayern, after the success in the Italian Cup against Roma.
“If we win these two games I will go nuts!” wrote a fan named Eddie ahead of the triumph in Siena as he shared his growing tension in the tuttointer.com web site (tutto” meaning all).
Coach Jose Mourinho seemed to be on the same wavelength as he said last week that he was bracing for 15 crazy days.”
The Portuguese dismissed rumours of his possible departure to Real Madrid at the end of the season, saying that Bayern will “arrive soon”, adding there was “no room” for Mourinho to think about himself.
One whose self-control could be temporarily impaired by a triumph in Spain is certainly Massimo Moratti.
Since he became club president in 1995, Moratti has dreamt of repeating the feats of his late father Angelo, who steered Inter from 1955 to 1968.
The founder of the family’s oil-trading business remains the most successful president in the 102-year history of the club, with three national titles, two Champions Cups and two Intercontinental Cups won in 1964 and 1965.
Moratti has no complaints about Serie A titles, as he clinched his fifth scudetto after securing his third Italian Cup, but has little to brag about on the international stage, with a UEFA Cup won in 1998 the only success.
Before any possible celebrations, a night of passion awaits Moratti at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, along with the fans who managed to snatch one of the 5,000 tickets that went on sale Saturday morning in a Milan bank.
The Interisti in Madrid are certainly going to be more than 5,000, though, as others must have secured part of the 11,000 tickets sold by ruling body UEFA to the general public.
Those staying at home look to setting or getting close to a television-audience record, while thousands will gather under the many television screens that usually pop up for big sports events.
The city of Milan will mount a giant screen in Piazza Duomo, where the blue-black crowd has held their scudetto celebrations in the past four years, and hope to hold an even wilder Euro-style party.
As far as the match is concerned, fans are confident in the recovery of Brazil defender Lucio and Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
There seems to be less hope for Colombian full-back Ivan Cordoba and there is none for the suspended Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta.
rounak