Inter's time is coming.
In every championship season, there comes a moment that proves to be the definitive challenge for a team. Usually it's a match, sometimes it's a transfer, other times a press conference gone horribly wrong (Kevin Keegan anyone) or terribly well. Often this moment is preceded by smaller challenges, each an obstacle to greatness in themselves, each one slightly bigger than the one previous. But they are all preludes to that big, critical moment when the team in question must finally rise to the challenge and define their season - go on to glory or fall by the wayside.
On Feb 21, 2007, Inter take on Valencia at the San Siro. Two weeks later they meet again at the Mestella. For Internazionale, this tie, is the defining point of their season. If they can beat the Ches they may well go on to win the Champions' League in addition to the Serie A title.
So far, this season, they have disposed of Milan in the Milan derby with ridiculous ease, the 4-3 scoreline notwithstanding, banishing some demons from earlier hidings they have gotten in that fixture (a Maurizio Ganz inspired 6-0 win in May 2001). They have beaten erstwhile contendors Palermo as well as second placed Roma, both away from home. Those matches may have settled the issue on the domestic front, lending an inevitability to the notion that the Nerazzuri may indeed, finally win the title again. However, they cannot finish the season having fulfilled their potential and ambition if they do not come close to winning the Champions' League as well. This may well be their best chance. So far they have answered all the critics to lay the foundation for a memorable season. To that end the tilt against Valencia is more seminal than any other tie this season.
Arsenal's 2003-04 unbeaten season was forged in the heated cauldron of a premeiership season where more physical and better heeled teams sought to knock them off their perch with both brawny tactics and money. As much as the draws against Manchester United counted - notably the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford - Arsenal's crucial moment came when they went into the half time break down 2-1 against Liverpool, days after having been knocked out of both the Champions' League and FA Cup. On that occasion, Henry scored a hat-trick and singlehandedly dragged Arsenal back into the match and onto the league title, unbeaten, unconquered, invincible.
Likewise, Arsenal's league and Cup doubles in both 2002 and 1998 were sealed with comprehensive dismantlings of rivals United at Old Trafford both times - Overmars and Wiltord step forward.
Barcelona's first league title under Rijkaard and with Ronaldinho was cemented with a clinical win over arch rivals Real Madrid. Milan's unbeaten season in 1991-92 was based as much on the zero in the losses column as on the win over Juventus in the Del Alpi. United's treble win in 1999 had it's seminal moments aplenty - Dennis Bergkamp's missed penalty in the FA Cup replay and Winterburn's broken nose against Leeds, not to mention, Pippo Inzaghi putting Juve up 2-0 within 11 minutes in the Champions' League semi-final second leg. Heck even Porto's sublime treble season in 2004 had it's critical juncture, the tie against United in the Champions' League knockout rounds. The list goes on.
Teams have been there before, and winked, Arsenal versus Chelsea in the Champions' League Quarterfinals in 2003-04. Arsenal versus Manchester United, in the FA Cup semifinals in both 1999 and 2004. Inter, on the last day of the 2001-02 season. Milan, in the second leg against Deportivo in the Champions' League in 2003-04. Eternal French Champions' Olympique Lyon, when they contrived to lose to Milan in the Champions' League quarterfinals last year.
Quite simply, Inter, must hold their nerve.
If, Inter do go on to complete a most unique unbeaten league title (their matches against Milan and Roma seem to be the only obstacles on that course) and add to that the Champions' League, they would have replaced the demons in the trophy cabinet with some pretigious silverware. And as a Milan and Arsenal fan, I will be the first to congratulate them.
Game on then
In every championship season, there comes a moment that proves to be the definitive challenge for a team. Usually it's a match, sometimes it's a transfer, other times a press conference gone horribly wrong (Kevin Keegan anyone) or terribly well. Often this moment is preceded by smaller challenges, each an obstacle to greatness in themselves, each one slightly bigger than the one previous. But they are all preludes to that big, critical moment when the team in question must finally rise to the challenge and define their season - go on to glory or fall by the wayside.
On Feb 21, 2007, Inter take on Valencia at the San Siro. Two weeks later they meet again at the Mestella. For Internazionale, this tie, is the defining point of their season. If they can beat the Ches they may well go on to win the Champions' League in addition to the Serie A title.
So far, this season, they have disposed of Milan in the Milan derby with ridiculous ease, the 4-3 scoreline notwithstanding, banishing some demons from earlier hidings they have gotten in that fixture (a Maurizio Ganz inspired 6-0 win in May 2001). They have beaten erstwhile contendors Palermo as well as second placed Roma, both away from home. Those matches may have settled the issue on the domestic front, lending an inevitability to the notion that the Nerazzuri may indeed, finally win the title again. However, they cannot finish the season having fulfilled their potential and ambition if they do not come close to winning the Champions' League as well. This may well be their best chance. So far they have answered all the critics to lay the foundation for a memorable season. To that end the tilt against Valencia is more seminal than any other tie this season.
Arsenal's 2003-04 unbeaten season was forged in the heated cauldron of a premeiership season where more physical and better heeled teams sought to knock them off their perch with both brawny tactics and money. As much as the draws against Manchester United counted - notably the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford - Arsenal's crucial moment came when they went into the half time break down 2-1 against Liverpool, days after having been knocked out of both the Champions' League and FA Cup. On that occasion, Henry scored a hat-trick and singlehandedly dragged Arsenal back into the match and onto the league title, unbeaten, unconquered, invincible.
Likewise, Arsenal's league and Cup doubles in both 2002 and 1998 were sealed with comprehensive dismantlings of rivals United at Old Trafford both times - Overmars and Wiltord step forward.
Barcelona's first league title under Rijkaard and with Ronaldinho was cemented with a clinical win over arch rivals Real Madrid. Milan's unbeaten season in 1991-92 was based as much on the zero in the losses column as on the win over Juventus in the Del Alpi. United's treble win in 1999 had it's seminal moments aplenty - Dennis Bergkamp's missed penalty in the FA Cup replay and Winterburn's broken nose against Leeds, not to mention, Pippo Inzaghi putting Juve up 2-0 within 11 minutes in the Champions' League semi-final second leg. Heck even Porto's sublime treble season in 2004 had it's critical juncture, the tie against United in the Champions' League knockout rounds. The list goes on.
Teams have been there before, and winked, Arsenal versus Chelsea in the Champions' League Quarterfinals in 2003-04. Arsenal versus Manchester United, in the FA Cup semifinals in both 1999 and 2004. Inter, on the last day of the 2001-02 season. Milan, in the second leg against Deportivo in the Champions' League in 2003-04. Eternal French Champions' Olympique Lyon, when they contrived to lose to Milan in the Champions' League quarterfinals last year.
Quite simply, Inter, must hold their nerve.
If, Inter do go on to complete a most unique unbeaten league title (their matches against Milan and Roma seem to be the only obstacles on that course) and add to that the Champions' League, they would have replaced the demons in the trophy cabinet with some pretigious silverware. And as a Milan and Arsenal fan, I will be the first to congratulate them.
Game on then
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