Inter Milan Are European Champions

Charles Klein

In a game that could not be described as anything other than a perfect lullaby for all neutral fans, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu last night. I felt well ready for a solid nap when it was all over.

A double for Diego Milito insured a treble for Inter Milan. Both of Milito's goals provided a stern examination of Bayern's soft core of Daniel Van Buyten and Martin Demichelis. Neither Bayern centerback was capable of winning the ball off of Inter's attacking quadruple of Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o, Goran Pandev and Milito.

Milito's first goal was straight out of the training ground. Inter keeper Julio Cesar hoofed a goal kick about 75 yards up the gleaming Santiago Bernabeu pitch, which was taken down perfectly by Milito, who played his header straight into the feet of Sneijder. The Dutchmen placed an inch-perfect through ball for Milito, who displayed both patience and class by feinting and then firing past a helpless Hans-Jorg Butt to send Inter into the ascendency.

And his second goal was rather reminiscent of the first. Milito again, plowing a lone furrow up front for Inter, expertly fielded a clearance out of Inter's defensive third and delicately held up play and allowed his teammates to get forward to assist in the counter-attack. Milito then received the ball on the edge of Bayern's 18 yard box, delightfully wrong-footing Van Buyten and shooting yet another delicious finish past Butt and sealing the win for Inter.

Inter's defense maintained a vice-like grip on the proceedings, as Bayern found it impossible to play a cutting pass or fire a long distance shot against Cesar. With the exception of Arjen Robben, the Bayern attack lacked any real spark or threat on goal. Thomas Muller had a chance to even the score within the first minute of the second half, finding Cesar's legs instead of the back of the Inter net. From then on, minus one creative attempt made by Robben to bend one past Cesar, Bayern were absolutely toothless in front of goal.

Credit Jose Mourinho for having his side prepared for the Bayern onslaught, which had felled defensive sides the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Olympique Lyonnais and Fiorentina on their way to the final. Franck Ribery was a big miss for Louis Van Gaal's side as Hamit Altintop looked thoroughly out of place on the left side of midfield.

Ribery, out due to a red card in the previous stage of the competition, could only watch and wonder what difference he could have made versus a side who looked thoroughly determined to prevent Bayern from doing absolutely anything inside their 18-yard box.

Every time either Robben or Phillip Lahm attempted to penetrate on the left-hand side they found their way blocked by Christian Chivu, Esteban Cambiasso and Lucio. On the rare occasions that either of them got free, both scuffed their crosses or found no one in the box, as I think everyone in the red and white stripes of Bayern were rooted to the spot with shock that a ball could even enter the Inter box.

Inter Milan were deserved Champions on a beautiful Spanish evening in Madrid. While their display may have lacked the constant flair of Barcelona or the buccaneering spirit of Manchester United, their defensive play and fantastic counter-attacks were more than enough to give them that for which they came.

And now it appears that Inter manager Jose Mourinho will be leaving the club to take over at Real Madrid. While Mourinho has yet to sign a contract at the Bernabeu, it is common knowledge that Madrid supremo Florentino Perez is keen on installing the 'Special One' as the manager to take down Barcelona in La Liga and reestablish Real's former dominance of Europe.

Whatever happens in the future, the blue and black section of Milan have every right to celebrate the end to a fantastic season in which they won every competition in which they competed. Champions of Italy, winners of the Copa Italia and now the Kings of Europe. What a season.