It is Done

Incredible, just incredible. Words could not describe the sensations felt at the final whistle, or even when Inter scored the goals that secured the Champions League for the third time in its history.

It just goes to prove that Italian football is anything BUT dead and buried.  It just goes to prove that Inter have managed to get the European monkey off their back and bury 45 years of hurt right in the sand.  It goes to prove that when you're hungry for success, goals can be achieved if you're willing to sacrifice yourselves for the greater good.

This cannot be proven more than by the way Inter's talismanic captain Javier Zanetti has played throughout the years.  Be it at right-back, left-back or in midfield, the 37-year-old Argentine has defied the years and often played as if he's 10 years his junior.  He is a true embodiment of there not being an 'I' in 'team', and putting the notion of the collective good ahead of individual honours.

This is however a team that, strictly speaking, is composed of a bunch of rejects.  Samuel Eto'o left Barcelona an unwanted figure, despite being hugely popular with the fans.  Wesley Sneijder was forced out of Real Madrid.  Esteban Cambiasso was discarded as someone talentless some six years ago.  Tonight's goalscorer, Milito, hadn't played for a top European club until this year.  Goran Pandev left Lazio amid much legal wrangling.  Lucio was thrown out by Bayern Munich for turning up late to training.  Walter Samuel is another Real Madrid reject.  And the list goes on.  Tonight, this team of rejects played to prove to the world that it could achieve the greatest prize in club football, and prove it... it sure did.

Jose Mourinho has managed to achieve something that no other manager has achieved in Inter's history.  He has managed to win the League, the national cup and Champions League in one season.  He has won the treble.

He's almost certain to leave, but unlike his departure from Chelsea, this time he leaves on his own terms.  He leaves the club a winner and not a discarded figure (too), he leaves the club having managed to win it all within the space of two years.  Granted, there is the matter of the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup as well, but those trophies aren't important to him.  What is important are those records that look destined to be broken sometime in the future.  But again, unlike how he left Chelsea, this time Mourinho leaves with a star placed firmly above his head.

Good luck at Real Madrid Jose, your biggest challenge yet.  Us interisti will miss you, but you'll remain in our hearts forever.

FC Internazionale Milano: 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League winning squad: 1. Francesco Toldo; 2. Ivan Ramiro Cordoba; 4. Javier Zanetti (C); 5. Dejan Stankovic; 6. Lucimar Ferreira da Silva; 7. Ricardo Quaresma; 8. Thiago Motta; 9. Samuel Eto'o; 10. Wesley Sneijder; 11. Sulley Ali Muntari; 12. Julio Cesar Soares de Espindola; 13. Maicon Douglas Sisenando; 15. Rene Krhin; 17. MacDonald Mariga; 19. Esteban Cambiasso; 21. Paolo Orlandoni; 22. Diego Milito; 23. Marco Materazzi; 27. Goran Pandev; 39. Davide Santon; 45. Mario Balotelli; 89. Marko Arnatauovic; Coach: Jose Mourinho

God Bless You all!

Matti