The Special One Landed in Milan

Jose Mourinho is back in management! The self-claimed Special One landed in Milan to take the Internazionale job after signing a three-year contract with Inter. Mourinho will replace Roberto Mancini, who may go the other way round to Chelsea to replace Avram Grant.

There has been talks for quite some time that Jose Mourinho will replace Mancini at Inter, who despite winning 3 straight Scudetto, failed to shine in European Champions League, and when city rival AC Milan won the Champions League last season, it has become bitter to swallow for the Inter chairman and board.

Mourinho's pedigree in Champions League has been impressive, despite his only win came when he is at Porto. In his time with Chelsea, they have reach the latter stages of the competition. Mourinho's arrival may also spurred the transfer market, and attract more stars to the Serie A.


On the other hand, if Roberto Mancini is appointed as Chelsea's coach, Italy should be proud that their coaches have been in well demand. Chelsea is also reported to be chasing Milan's Carlo Ancelotti. This is a sign that the World's Best Football League is recognising the ability of the Italian coaches, who they once deemed to boring!

Milan playing UEFA Cup next season?! Inter champions again!

Just now when I check out soccernet for the football result, the headlines is "Gerrard: We must spend big". But if you ask me, this "We must spend big" word is more suited to AC Milan, who despite winning 4-1 against Udinese in the last game, fail to clinch 4th place, and will play in the UEFA Cup next season.

Milan in the UEFA Cup?! That's disappointing by Milan's standard! And the last time they don't play Champions League football is 6 years ago! But surely, we have seen this coming, and so is the coach. It's just that the board think that by being AC Milan, they will have a long run in the Champions League, and finish 4th to qualify for the next one! But that does not always happened, not everyday is a Sunday!

By looking at their activity in transfer market, you really questioned their ambition! They certainly don't look capable of challenging Inter for the Scudetto this season with this squad. Though the evergreen Inzaghi keep scoring, he is 34 now and is susceptible to injury, not to mentioned the ever injured Ronaldo. Gilardino's form has been bad, but then Milan's failure can only be blamed on the board! By having Alexander Pato as the only player they are buying, and that also came at after winter break is frustrating!

Milan board owe the fans a big star striker! Milan had failed to replace Shevchenko, and had put Kaka with so much burden that affect his performance. So going forward, "Milan must spend Big!". Buy someone who can score to replace the ageing Inzaghi, and keep the squad. The squad is definitely not weak, just the attacking department, particularly the forward department is weak and do not have enough capable cover! Pato is very talented, but yet he is still a young lad and is one for the future.

On Inter winning the championship again, and Alessandro Del Piero winning the Golden Boot, I can only say "Congrats and well done! You guys deserved it! And so is Milan's participation in UEFA Cup next season!"

Milan into 4th place; Title race reopen!

Milan put in a dominant performance in one of the most important game of the season, beating Inter 2-1 in the Milan derby Sunday to blow open the title race with second-placed AS Roma winning 3-0 at Sampdoria. Inter's lead is now down to three points with two games remaining, but nonetheless, everything is still in Inter's hand, with a victory at next weekend's home match against Siena enough to seal the title for the 2nd straight years.

As Inter's coach said, 'In the first half they were better. Then there were two goals and we started to play. I have always thought that the (scudetto) celebrations would come against Siena and not Milan'

Roma coach Luca Spalletti shared the sentiment, said 'We must be realistic. Inter have had a good season and have all the cards for winning.'

Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka scored early in the second half for Milan,while rivals Fiorentina lost 2-1 at Cagliari.

Milan are now fourth with 61 points and Fiorentina 60, with Udinese moving up to sixth on 57 and Samp dropping to seventh on 56.

Shevchenko On Chelsea and Milan Derby

Chelsea made it to the final, breaking the jinx of Liverpool after beating them 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. Though not playing a big part as in Milan, Shevchenko made it to the final for the 3rd time in 5 years. His penalty brought Milan their 6th European Champions title in 2003

Today, he is no longer the talisman, but remain a model professional for Chelsea, playing as well as he can when called upon. He remains coy about a return to Milan after this season, but admits he still holds the Rossoneri dear to his heart. Milan president & Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has frequently said he would welcome Shevchenko back.

But he, as professional as ever, remain committed to his current team.

``There is a lot of talk about my return,'' Shevchenko said in a television interview published in Corriere dello Sport. ``But I am not authorised to say anything more than this: that my links to Milan have always been great."

``Milan gave me a lot, they helped me grow as a player and they helped me win the European Footballer of the Year award and the Champions League.

``I have great memories. Relationships with my team-mates are very important and many of them have remained."

``The president has always been very kind to me, he suggested to me to take a house in Antigua, I listened to him and I made a great investment."

``I thank him for everything he has done for me, he is very close to my heart. He helped me a lot, in many things."

``I miss my friends in Italy, the true ones, and the food, a lot.''

Though considered a flop by many, his record of 20 goals in 68 appearances for Chelsea is still respectable.

``I haven't managed to play much this year,'' continued Shevchenko. ``Whether for physical problems or technical reasons.

``But in the game I have played in I managed to make a small contribution with seven goals.

``The language? I manage to communicate, I manage to speak to my team-mates, but I am very far from perfection.''

When asked about the Milan derby, Shevchenko has this to say.

``The derby has always been a special game, a great one,'' continued Shevchenko. ``I think this derby will mean more to Milan because they are fighting for fourth place, to play in the Champions League and, above all, it's their home game.

``I have told all my friends in England that, to understand Italian football, you have to go to the Milan derby because it's a spectacular game.

``I give my best wishes to my former team-mates. I know how important it is to win the derby, especially in the race for fourth place.

``I think that the more important games give me a larger rush: the more the game is important the more I manage to give.

``The most important goal I scored in a derby was that in the Champions League semi-final.''