Mourinho: "This triumph is a dream for everyone"

MADRID – The Coppa Italia, the Scudetto, and now the Champions League. For José Mourinho, adding the most important trophy at club level is "a fantastic emotion."

"It’s all fantastic," said the Inter coach after lifting the trophy to the sky. "The Champions League is special, winning it is special. It’s a dream for everybody: for Moratti, the club, and the whole of our incredible family.

"The most difficult opponent was Van Gaal, but the match was decided by details, like Julio Cesar’s saves and Milito’s goals. This is a final and it’s an incredible joy for all the Interisti.

"Eto’o was fantastic tonight. He always wants to win, as a striker, as a goalkeeper, as a full-back. Milito is the man of finals, but everyone deserves credit tonight, from those who scored the goals to those who didn’t even play a minute, because we are a family. It’s beautiful.

"I feel great sadness, but now I have to be as cold as possible. History has been made here now, Inter won’t be the same as before now. The percentage of me leaving is higher than that of staying."

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Moratti: "Full of joy"

MADRID – With a smile on his face, Massimo Moratti said that any discussions regarding the future of José Mournho will take place in the coming days.

"I didn’t cry," said the Inter president after watching his team overcome Bayern Munich to win the Champions League at the Bernabeu. "Mourinho did, and he cried a lot. I hope it wasn’t because he feels guilty…"

Moratti added: "The players were so full of joy. This is such an important feat. It was a great show and a great joy. It was wonderful."

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Milito: "Incredibly happy"

MADRID – Champions League final hero Diego Milito spoke on Sky Sport Italia after spurring Inter to victory over Bayern Munich with goals in each half.

"I thank Inter, the president and the boss for wanting to sign me last summer," said the Argentine striker. "I am so happy, I have never felt joy like this. It’s incredible. I’m very happy for Inter, because we really wanted to win this competition, and for the president who is the first person to deserve this trophy.

"We are too happy tonight. It’s a unique feeling. This is football. I’m thirty, but I have always fought and always tried to give my best and learn. We will see what happens next year."

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Pandev: "We really deserved to win this trophy"

MADRID – Goran Pandev reflected on his hugely successful first six months at Inter in an interview with Rai Sport after Saturday night’s Champions League final triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I arrived here in January and it has been a marvellous season for me," said the Macedonian forward. "I have settled in very well and I thank everyone.

"We played a great match tonight and we deserved to win this Champions League after knocking out Barcelona and Chelsea.

"Let’s enjoy this trophy now and let’s hope that Mourinho stays so we can win it again."

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Champions League final: Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter

MADRID – And there’s number three! Diego Milito’s double ended a 45-year wait for Inter as the Nerazzurri defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to win the Champions League and complete an unprecedented treble.

The undisputed star of the show, Milito struck ten minutes before half time and scored his second 25 minutes after the restart to add to his goals which won us the Coppa Italia against Roma and the Scudetto in Siena.

Bayern, whose main tactic was to sweep the ball wide to Arjen Robben on the right wing, had more possession and shots on goal but Inter were more dangerous coming forward and Wesley Sneijder was unlucky not to score when his free kick took a deflection off Altintop, forcing Butt into a difficult save.

Sneijder set up Inter’s opener on 35 minutes, threading through to Milito who took one touch and did a feint before firing past Butt. The Dutchman should have gone from provider to scorer just before the break but he shot straight at the Bayern goalkeeper after receiving in the area from Milito.

Julio Cesar made sure it wasn’t Bayern’s night when he pulled off a brilliant save from Müller right after the restart.

Inter came close moments later when Pandev’s shot from Milito’s cross was tipped over by Butt, and Julio Cesar did the same from Robben’s curling shot as Bayern continued to churn out chances, prompting Mourinho to bring on Stankovic to protect his midfield and switch Zanetti to left-back.

The Nerazzurri soaked up the Bayern pressure and put the trophy beyond the Germans’ reach with twenty minutes remaining when Milito ran on to Eto’o’s through ball and elegantly turned Van Buyten before burying his shot into the far corner.

Mourinho granted Milito a standing ovation in additional time, bringing on Marco Materazzi in place of the Argentine. After the final whistle, a visibly emotional Mourinho embraced Javier Zanetti – who made a landmark 700th appearance for the club in tonight’s final – before going on a lap of honour with his son José junior. He then joined Massimo Moratti and his players on stage to receive the big-eared trophy – the perfect end to a season that will long be remembered.

Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-1)

Scorer: Milito 35, 70.

Bayern Munich: 22 Butt; 21 Lahm, 5 Van Buyten, 6 Demichelis, 28 Badstuber; 17 Van Bommel, 31 Schweinsteiger; 10 Robben, 25 Müller, 8 Altintop (18 Klose 63); 11 Olic (33 Gomez 74).
Subs not used
: 1 Rensing, 13 Görlitz, 23 Pranjic, 26 Contento, 44 Tymoshchuk.

Coach
: Louis Van Gaal.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu (5 Stankovic 68); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso; 27 Pandev (11 Muntari 79), 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto’o; 22 Milito (23 Materazzi 90+2).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 17 Mariga, 45 Balotelli.

Coach
: José Mourinho.

Referee: Howard Webb (England).

Booked: Demichelis 25, Chivu 30, van Bommel 78.

Att: 78,000.

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