Well, well, well. What can I say. I stand by most of my list, but I have to admit that the team Mancini fielded, despite what he could've done different, created quite a lot chances. Cruz was too selfish as Deki was clean on goal and Ibra was way too ineffective (what is it with him and these matches?) and Reina did very well on Cruz' other chances.
Last night, Mancini fielded his Inter and his Inter didn't do bad at all. But still, I feel this is the first year we can blame luck for our exit and that is honestly not enough progress after four years. The Villarreal return match was mainly the players' fault, but Mancini still has a responsibility to make them geared up for the match, even though he is no babysitter. Anyway, we have failed in all our away matches. You could blame the players, but when it happens every year, then you could ask questions about Mancini as well. When he, after three years, doesn't manage to take us through that very same stage, he has to face his limitations also. Remember, we were 2-0 down at Ajax in the Villarreal year.
Mancini doesn't have all the blame for our CL exits, but when the team reacts like this every year at this stage, we must consider his role in it as well.
I want Mourinho if Mancini's exit is definite. There will be some changes, but it was needed anyway. Materazzi, Cruz, Crespo, Vieira eventually and so on. These are four good players that will be expensive to replace with quality. I think that if Mourinho arrives, Moratti will have to spend a lot, but I don't think that is necessarily negative.
And guys, please be grown up about this. Mancini has done a terrific job and has really improved Inter. If we get another coach and continue to pose a threat in Italy and improve in Europe, Mancini will have much of the merit. He turned this trophy-thirsty-since-20 years team into a team that won six throphies, bigger or smaller, in four years. That is a feat you cannot neglect. I don't think Serie A is that much weakened either, Roma has excelled and Milan was on the down anyway. The other smaller teams have actually improved and certainly not gotten worse. And it's not Inter's fault that they look good after Juventus' cheating era. But that's another discussion.
I will forever be grateful for what Mancini did to Inter, if he quits now or in four years. And I will be respecting a thousand times more if he is quitting because he realizes this is the best Inter he can make. To me it signalizes he cares for Inter and that he doesn't want to run this Inter at the same level for three/four more years only to largen his money bag.
I hope this winning era can continue for Inter and once again I wish to pay tribute to Roberto Mancini. One of the best coaches in Inter's history.
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