The road tp the golden cup. Hoe Inter won the Champions league final?
Player-by-player look at the squad that won the biggest prize in club football for the third time in the Nerazzurri’s history. (Article by Goal.com)
On Saturday evening Italian giants Inter accomplished a historic treble by defeating German powerhouse Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Argentine international striker Diego Milito scored twice – one in each half – to lead his side to the triumph.
It was the first time in Inter’s history that they had won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League all in a single season and was also the third time that they had won the European Cup.
Goal.com now looks at the players who achieved this feat…..
1. Francesco Toldo
Games: 0 (0 as a substitute)
Clean sheets: N/A
Spent the entire season warming the bench playing second fiddle to Julio Cesar. At 38, his career is virtually over.
2. Ivan Cordoba
Games: 0 (2)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Played just twice in the Champions League and both times as a substitute. But the Colombian’s presence on the bench expressed the depth and strength of this Inter squad.
4. Javier Zanetti
Games: 13 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The Argentine legend played every single minute in the Champions League this campaign and at 36 remains a world class versatile player. Zanetti has played in whichever position he has been asked to and marvellously got the better of the likes of Lionel Messi and Milos Krasic.
5. Dejan Stankovic
Games: 8 (4)
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Complemented his fellow midfielders perfectly in Europe and always played an important role. The Serbian’s humility and ability to link up with his team-mates have been key assets for Inter’s European triumph.
6. Lucio
Games: 12 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Signed in the summer and became arguably the best centre-back in Italy and in Europe. The Brazilian forged a formidable central defensive partnership with Walter Samuel and his performances against Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were gigantic for Inter.
8. Thiago Motta
Games: 7 (1)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The Brazilian missed the final against Bayern because of suspension but he was an important player in the lead-up to the grand finale. Motta supported the attacking players smartly and his work rate and passing abilities in the midfield made things comfortable for the forwards.
9. Samuel Eto’o
Games: 13 (0)
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
The Cameroonian became the first footballer in history to win the Treble with two different teams in successive years. The former Barcelona striker wasn’t very prolific this campaign but he scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and in the final against Bayern he dropped deep to defend.
10. Wesley Sneijder
Games: 11 (0)
Goals: 3
Assists: 6
The Real Madrid discard was the Nerazzurri’s main player in the attacking department. Sneijder was immense in the final and was arguably the best creative and most effective midfielder in the knockout stages of the competition.
11. Sulley Muntari
Games: 2 (7)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Made almost all of his Champions League appearances from the bench and came on in the final too. Not a player who should have started in every game in Europe, Muntari was nevertheless an asset who could shore up the midfield in desperate times.
12. Julio Cesar
Games: 13 (0)
Clean sheets: 6
Like Zanetti, the 30-year-old played every single minute in the Champions League from start to finish and was immense between the sticks. The Brazilian international custodian remains one of the three best goalkeepers on the planet.
13. Maicon
Games: 13 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Arguably the best and most balanced right-back in the world. The Brazilian’s surge from the defence added to his side’s attacking abilities and his all-round defensively balanced performance helped Inter win the historic Treble.
19. Esteban Cambiasso
Games: 11 (1)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Another Real Madrid reject (from 2004) who was key in the midfield for Inter in Europe. The Argentine had an excellent game in the final too and was one of the best defensive midfielders in the whole competition.
22. Diego Milito
Games: 11
Goals: 6
Assists: 2
It would be tough to deny that the Argentine wasn’t the best striker in Europe this season. The former Zaragoza striker proved his mettle in Europe and his two goals in the final against Bayern carried on his run of scoring against the champions of Spain, England and Germany. A top contender for the Player of the Tournament.
25. Walter Samuel
Games: 13 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Forged Europe’s most formidable central defensive partnership with Lucio and proved himself a rock at the back. One of Real Madrid’s former players who won the Champions League final in style at the Bernabeu.
26. Cristian Chivu
Games: 7 (2)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The Romanian suffered with injuries on occasions in 2009-10 but he still started the final. Chivu was an important part of the Inter defensive unit and although he did struggle against Robben at times in the final, his glory cannot be denied.
27. Goran Pandev
Games: 5 (1)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Joined as a free agent in January and made some telling contributions in the Champions League. Pandev was one of Jose Mourinho’s more trusted players and he repaid the faith with good performances in the knockout stages.
45. Mario Balotelli
Games: 2 (6)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
The temperamental teenager’s best performances this season were reserved for Serie A but the Italian striker was an important part of Mourinho’s great plan. Balotelli must be bouyant at having won the Champions League, Scudetto and Coppa Italia before he even turns 20.
Also played: Patrick Vieira 0 (2 as sub), Alessandro Mancini 1, David Suazo 0 (1 as sub), Davide Santon 0 (1 as sub), Ricardo Quaresma 0 (2 as sub), MacDonald Mariga 0 (3 as substitute), Marco Materazzi 1 (3 as substitute).
*About The UEFA Champions League
(usually referred to as simply the Champions League or historically as the European Cup) is an annual Association football cup competition organized by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It is the most prestigious club trophy in the world.
Prior to 1992 the tournament was officially called the European Champion Clubs’ Cup but was usually referred to as simply the European Cup or European Champions’ Cup. The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country. During the 1990s the tournament began to be expanded, incorporating a round-robin group phase and more teams. Europe’s strongest national leagues now provide up to four teams each for the competition. The UEFA Champions League should not be confused with the UEFA Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
The tournament consists of several stages. In the present format it begins in mid-July with three knockout qualifying rounds and a play-off round. The 10 surviving teams join 22 seeded teams in the group stage, in which there are eight groups consisting of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runners-up enter the final knockout phase, which ends with the final match in May.
The title has been won by 21 different clubs, 12 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Real Madrid, who have won the competition nine times, including the first five seasons it was contested. Barcelona are the current champions. Since the tournament changed name and structure in 1992, no club has managed consecutive wins.
The winner of the UEFA Champions League qualifies to the FIFA Club World Cup (which replaced the Intercontinental Cup since 2005) as well as the UEFA Super Cup.
The final of the competition is – along with the NFL’s Super Bowl – the most watched annual sporting event worldwide, both drawing just over 100m television viewers
