Gerard Pique poked fun at Real Madrid by claiming that people will forget the club’s UEFA Champions League victories. Meanwhile, fans will celebrate Barcelona’s for generations to come.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> supporters have never warmed up to the Spanish former defender, and it is easy to see why. The now 36-year-old spent almost a decade with the Catalan powerhouse after rising through the ranks at La Masia.



Although he suddenly announced his retirement from the sport last year, he has constantly remained in the public eye ever since. It makes great sense, given that he has never been shy to say what is on his mind.



As a result, a great deal of the Los Blancos fan base has been unimpressed by some of his previous remarks. And his latest statements will surely not be warmly received by people from the Spanish capital.



<h2>What did Gerard Pique say?</h2>



The ex-<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> defender has reignited the never-ending <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/history-of-el-clasico-real-madrid-vs-barcelona/">El Clasico rivalry</a> discussion between the Catalan club and their arch-enemies. On this occasion, he voiced criticism against their UEFA Champions League victory from the prior year.



When asked about Los Blancos’ surprising 2021-22 Champions League victory, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2021/08/18/barcelonas-1-5-billion-debt-how-a-mega-club-fell-into-a-financial-black-hole-and-lost-its-star/">Gerard Pique</a> made some wild assertions to Catalan radio <a href="https://www.rac1.cat/el-mon/20231108/115495/gerard-pique-ningu-millor-xavi-perque-barca-torni-jugar-be.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RAC1</a>.



“We are in a country in which more people support Real Madrid than Barcelona and they are the team from the capital. We’ll always be the ones who are in the shadows and trying to get one over on them. We don’t have to go into these battles and make our own way, which is closely linked to theirs because of the rivalry. Instead, I think we need to try to focus on who we are.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231109_WST_468605_Ancelotti-Real-UCL-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-468742" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Real-UCL-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Real-UCL-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Real-UCL-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Real-UCL.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Even if Real Madrid was inferior, Los Blancos was their record 14th UEFA Champions League title.</figcaption></figure>



“Madrid’s current team is just more of the same. They transmit little but they get results and in February, they will be alive in all competitions. They have won 13 or 14 Champions Leagues, and it’s just one more, but when we win, it is remembered forever. The last Champions League they won was a miracle because they were inferior in every stage and in the final, and it will never be remembered.”



Not every team can stage a comeback repeatedly at the death. Carlo Ancelotti’s players did in that particular campaign with relative ease.



<h2>What did Carlo Ancelotti say?</h2>



At the end of the 2021-22 season, Madrid triumphed against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City. It reclaimed Europe’s top club trophy. Real won its 14th Champions League title with a 1-0 victory against Liverpool in the finals. Vinicius Junior scored the only goal in the final.



That same year, Barcelona fell in the first round of the tournament. Unfortunately, Barcelona has not won the tournament since 2014-15. Luis Enrique’s squad, led by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, defeated Juventus with ease.



Real Madrid boss <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/brazils-proposed-appointment-of-ancelotti-met-with-criticism-20231102-WST-466841.html">Carlo Ancelotti</a> has since fired back angrily at Pique’s remarks, expressing his severe disagreement with them. Pique’s comments insulted the manager of the Whites. He sees the remarks as minimizing Real’s accomplishments.



“Pique lives in his world, which is not that of Madrid. No Madridista can forget about the Fourteenth. All his life it will be remembered”, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12729473/Carlo-Ancelotti-claims-Gerard-Pique-live-world-former-Barcelona-stars-damning-assessment-remember-Real-Madrids-historic-14th-Champions-League-win.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he stated</a> following the triumph over Braga on Wednesday.



“Real Madrid have done better than others because it is not easy to pass. This does not mean that in the other two we are going to rest, because in the Champions League all the games we have to show our best level. It is a special competition for us and Real Madrid has built its history in this competition.”



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Pique trolls Real for 2022 Champions League, Ancelotti responds

Carlo Ancelotti has replied to remarks made by Gerard Pique, who believes that Barcelona's Champions League teams are more legendary.

Carlo Ancelotti will reportedly quit his position as manager of Real Madrid after the current season to lead the Brazilian national team.



The experienced Italian manager has been with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> since he departed from Everton in 2021. During his second tenure, he has led the team to various successes, including a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-uefa-champions-league-and-europa-league-on-us-tv-and-internet/">UEFA Champions League</a> title, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">La Liga</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-del-rey-tv-schedule/">Copa Del Rey</a>, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup, and UEFA Supercup.



Despite his achievements, there are doubts about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and there have been few indications that he will extend his stay for another season. The Italian manager has since expressed a desire to remain with the club for as long as possible and said that he is content in his current role.



<h2>Ancelotti lined up as new Brazil manager in 2024</h2>



However, a lot of people think this will be his final season at the club. His contract is up at the end of the year. Also, there has been no discussion of renewing it amid <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/date-of-carlo-ancelottis-managerial-debut-for-brazil-announced-20230705-WST-441390.html">strong interest from Brazil</a>. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/brazil-national-team-tv-schedule/">Brazilian Football Association</a> unexpectedly started to seriously examine the 64-year-old for the position of national team manager.



Brazil Federation President Ednaldo Rodrigues publicly said that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ancelotti-faces-trial-what-is-real-madrid-boss-accused-of-doing-20230712-WST-442734.html">Ancelotti</a> would take over as coach of the national team. It will happen at some point in 2024. After <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/croatia-beat-brazil-on-penalties-as-goalkeeper-stars-20221209-WST-411802.html">losing to Croatia</a> in the World Cup Quarter-Finals last year in Qatar, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/tite-resigns-from-brazil-after-shock-world-cup-exit-20221209-WST-411832.html">Tite resigned as the Seleção boss</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231102_WST_466841_Ancelotti-Vinicius-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-466876" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Vinicius-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Vinicius-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Vinicius-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Ancelotti-Vinicius.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Ancelotti has already had experience with several Brazilian stars, including currently with Vinicius Junior.</figcaption></figure>



Brazil wants a secured coach in place before the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-tv-schedule/">Copa America</a> in June 2024. For now, Fernando Diniz of Fluminense has been in charge of the national team. He is doing that in addition to his club responsibilities.



<h2>Romario does not agree with possible plan</h2>



Ancelotti will not be at a loss for employment opportunities. The Italian is one of the world’s most decorated managers. However, the 1994 World Cup-winning hero for Brazil, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/sex-concentration-and-goals-key-to-world-cup-glory-romario-tells-jesus-20180510-CMS-240395.html">Romario</a>, did not waste any time voicing his view. He does not think Ancelotti should take the helm of the side.



The Brazilian icon spoke in defense of the current Brazil coach, Diniz. In doing so, he took an astonishing swipe against Carlo Ancelotti, according to <a href="https://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/panorama-esportivo/post/2023/10/que-se-f-o-ancelotti-e-boca-vai-tomar-no-c-uma-conversa-sincera-com-romario.ghtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Globo Esporte’s Panorama Esportivo.</a>



“Actually, here’s the thing, first I want to congratulate Ednaldo [Rodrigues], who is president of the CBF [Brazilian FA], he chose Diniz well. He’s the best coach we’ve got,’ Romario told Brazilian outlet O Globo.



“He [Diniz] doesn’t have time to do with the national team what he does at club level, which is his forte, training, getting these players together, he does what he can. He’s drawn and lost the last two games, nobody always wins.



“But I can say that, in my opinion, in my humble opinion, the Brazilian national team is in great hands with Diniz. F*** Ancelotti. I want him [Diniz] until the end.”



It is clear that the former striker’s support of Diniz, who will lead the Canarinha until 2024, is more than just a passing comment. There are few voices in Brazilian soccer as influential as Romario’s. His remarks have significance to the legions of admirers who value his legacy so highly. 



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Brazil's proposed appointment of Ancelotti met with criticism

Former striker Romario announced his displeasure with the potential appoinement of Carlo Ancelotti as the next Brazil head coach.

Two days before the crucial derby against Atletico Madrid, Jude Bellingham had allegedly left Real Madrid training early due to a gastrointestinal complaint.



Bellingham is the uncontested leader of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>‘s offensive, so having him on the field is important. Last year, the midfielder missed just a small fraction of the season, mainly due to injuries.



After he missed their season’s second-to-last game against Augsburg, he was held out of the starting lineup for the season finale against Mainz. Edin Terzic’s team came so close to winning the Bundesliga, but a tie cost them the championship.



The British phenom has subsequently adjusted well to his new team, and he now poses the greatest defensive challenge to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/atletico-madrid-tv-schedule/">Atletico Madrid</a> in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/real-madrid-vs-atletico-madrid-where-to-watch-the-madrid-derby-in-the-usa/">Madrid Derby</a>.



<h2>Carlo Ancelotti gives important update on Bellingham ahead of Atletico meeting</h2>



The stomach problem caused fear that the 20-year-old would miss Real Madrid’s first derby this campaign. However, those concerns are easing.



Bellingham returned to training on Saturday, allowing <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ancelottis-snide-remark-to-vinicius-omission-from-fifa-the-best-20230916-WST-456673.html">Carlo Ancelotti</a> to use him in the crucial encounter.



While addressing the Spanish press before the match, Ancelotti confirmed, via the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12552343/Carlo-Ancelotti-Jude-Bellingham-Real-Madrid-Atletico.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">D</a><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12552343/Carlo-Ancelotti-Jude-Bellingham-Real-Madrid-Atletico.html">aily Mail</a>: “Jude Bellingham will play tomorrow.”



Real Madrid supporters expressed relief upon hearing this, as the Englishman found the net again with a game-winning goal in midweek.



Thanks to the late strike, Los Blancos defeated Union Berlin 1-0 to earn their first UEFA Champions League victory of the season.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">👀 Bellingham&apos;s one-arm strength 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/YPVqbaXyAX">pic.twitter.com/YPVqbaXyAX</a>— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/1705266456865206766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>First big test for Real Madrid</h2>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/jude-bellingham-to-help-real-madrid-with-non-eu-spot-problem-20230729-WST-446400.html">Bellingham</a>‘s incredible start to the season includes six goals in only six games. The team’s chances of winning at the Civitas Metropolitano versus Atletico Madrid will increase significantly without him on the field.



Despite Real Madrid’s perfect record so far this season, Sunday’s encounter against Atletico will be their biggest test so far. The Colchoneros are perennial powerhouses, particularly at their home stadium, the &nbsp;Metropolitano.



Real Sociedad’s success in creating opportunities against Los Blancos <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/real-madrid-maintain-perfect-start-in-la-liga-with-comeback-win-20230917-WST-456840.html">last weekend </a>highlights the importance of Madrid’s defensive unity.



Photo credit: IMAGO &amp; Marco Canoniero

Bellingham hit with stomach flu: Will he play against Atletico?

Jude Bellingham had to leave Real Madrid's Friday training early due to a stomach virus ahead of Atletico match

Carlo Ancelotti defended Vinicius Jr. as FIFA announced the names of the 12 players up for The Best award. There was controversy as the Brazilian was left absent.



As its name implies, the trophy is presented to the season’s top performer. As expected such names as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland would feature prominently.



The star of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> now holds the most coveted individual accolade presented by the international soccer community. After leading Argentina to the World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022, he is a favorite.



You may also count on Haaland to be among the best candidates for the award. Because of his 52 goals in 2022-23, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> won the Premier League, FA Cup, and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a>.



Meanwhile, Mbappe, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germai</a>n’s captain, has been consistent throughout his career. His 2022/23 season included a World Cup Final in which he scored a hat trick despite France’s defeat.



On the other hand, there has been much discussion in recent days over <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/brazil-reveal-vinicius-replacement-in-world-cup-qualifiers-squad-20230830-WST-452881.html">Vinicius</a>‘ omission from the list.



<h2>Vinicius overlooked despite impressive form</h2>



The Brazilian sensation, who had a spectacular campaign, was notably absent from the list of candidates. In 55 total appearances with Madrid, he scored 23 goals and dished out 21 assists.



The winner of The Best Awarda is based on their achievements from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023. Vinicius was in superb form throughout this time, scoring 16 goals and adding 14 assists. 



This helped <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> on their way to two titles in the Copa del Rey and FIFA Club World Cup (per <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=vinicius+stats+2022%2F23+season&amp;rlz=1C1ONGR_enMK1075MK1075&amp;oq=vinicus+stats+202&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBEAAYDRiABDIGCAAQRRg5MgkIARAAGA0YgAQyCQgCEAAYDRiABDIJCAMQABgNGIAEMggIBBAAGBYYHjIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB4yCAgJEAAYFhge0gEIMzc1NWowajeoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Transfermarkt</a>).



Further, the 22-year-old was instrumental in Los Blancos’ run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Only Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, and Erling Haaland scored more goals than he did (30 in all competitions).



<h2>What did Ancelotti say about Vinicius?</h2>



Carlo Ancelotti delivered a snarky answer when asked during a news conference on Saturday about FIFA’s omission of the 23-year-old superstar. 



“Vinicius was crying in the dressing room. I asked him ‘what’s going on’, and he said: ‘They haven’t put me on this list’. the Italian boss laughed and added, “He cried for three or four hours and we weren’t able to get him to stop.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🎙️ Periodista: ¿Te sorprende que Vinícius no esté entre los nominados al premio The Best? 🗣️ Ancelotti: "Le he visto estos días en el vestuario y estaba llorando, me dijo no me pusieron en esa lista, ha llorado 3 o 4 horas, no hemos podido pararlo." 🤣<a href="https://t.co/DfgWVdHUvd">pic.twitter.com/DfgWVdHUvd</a>— REAL MADRID ♥️ (@AdriRM33) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdriRM33/status/1702997532639473665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Photo credit: IMAGO / Marco Canoniero

Ancelotti's snide remark to Vinicius' omission from FIFA The Best

In light of Vinicius's snub from FIFA's Best Player award, Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti provided a jocular response

It is quite early to discuss next season’s Champions League particularly with the World Cup looming ahead but Inter’s historic treble was much more than a great achievement. It proved once again how difficult it is to repeat as a champion in Europe’s elite club competition. For the Nerazzurri winning the Champions League is the ultimate experience having waited for more than four decades to repeat as champions of Europe.
President Massimo Moratti helped fund the building of the Nerazzurri squad and brought in Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho with the specific objective of bringing European glory to Milan considering the current Serie A title holder have not won the Champions League since the 1960s. Previous boss Roberto Mancini succeeded in breaking the dominance of Juventus and Milan since the early 1990s but failed to combine domestic success with an extended run in Europe’s elite competition as he never guided the Nerazzurri to the Final.
Mourinho succeeded in winning Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League yet he is racing to the exit door leaving the Nerazzurri in a delicate situation following the best season in the club’s history. Players such as Maicon and Diego Milito are now being linked with a move to Real Madrid which is Mourinho’s likely destination. It is only time before Mourinho is confirmed as the boss in Madrid unless he has a change of heart and opts to stay with the Nerazzurri. Other clubs are beginning to assess their chances of luring some of Inter’s key players to leave the peninsula as Arsenal have reportedly shown interest in goalkeeper Julio Cesar while Manchester City are looking to capture midfielder Esteban Cambiasso. These reports might not become reality but all these claims are a major distraction for a club celebrating a historic treble and with some of the star players headed to South Africa 2010.
Assuming Mourinho and some of the players jump ship, the Nerazzurri will be losing some key components while skipper Javier Zanetti is only getting older despite his consistent displays. Zanetti deserves credit for his fighting spirit and for putting in solid performances time and again despite his age. Below is a brief look at some of Inter’s main competitors for next season:
Barcelona: The former holders were ousted by Inter and will be looking to regain their lost title. Barca are one of the most talented teams in the world with Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez leading the charge. Barca have added a star name in the shape of striker David Villa while the Catalans remain in pursuit of Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas. If they do sign Fabregas then the team will likely start the next La Liga season and Champions League campaign as one of the favourites.
Real Madrid: The record winners of the Champions League will welcome with open arms Mourinho who has made it clear he will only leave the Nerazzurri for Madrid. In Madrid he will have greater individual talent to work with yet less of a cohesive unit and a weaker team spirit. Mourinho will be motivated to turn this team of stars into a strong and unified squad. Los Galacticos already have former Milan idol Kaka and world record signing Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks but it would not be a surprise if Mourinho asked for Maicon and Diego Milito to be signed from Inter. If they do, then Los Galacticos will be considered as a firm favourite considering they only missed on La Liga title by three points and many forget it does take time for news players to gel together.
Chelsea: Ironically Mourinho was shown the doors at Stamford Bridge because he failed to bring European glory to the London club but he did punish his former&nbsp;employers by eliminating them in the knockout stages of the Champions League by beating them twice home and away. Chelsea hired former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and the Italian succeeded in leading the Blues to a historic double&nbsp;by winning&nbsp;the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season in charge. Ancelotti made it clear his main objective for next season is to repeat the domestic double and to win in Europe. While Chelsea have a strong squad with experience and talent, the players as individuals are below the talent level of Spanish giants Real and Barca.
Bayern Munich: Bayern proved they are a solid team after a slow start to the season and the final in Madrid was perhaps a small representation of their season as they only began to show their potential after conceding the first goal to Inter’s hero Milito. The Bavarians will have Arjen Robben (despite rumours linking him with Juventus; &nbsp;just unlikely to happen for a number of reasons) and French star Franck Ribery will apparently return after missing the Champions League final due to suspension. The Germans are a solid group but like Chelsea they are not on par with Real and Barca if individuals are compared on a position by position basis.
Manchester United: Manchester have one of the best managers in Sir Alex Ferguson but he can certainly be stubborn leading him to make the odd mistake here and there, particularly when it comes to offloading certain players or refusing to bring in the appropriate players to replace outgoing stars. The Red Devils did not replace Cristiano Ronaldo and their challenge for Chelsea in the Premiership and before that in the Champions League tie against Bayern&nbsp;&nbsp;faltered once it became clear Wayne Rooney is carrying injury. If Manchester do not sign a couple of solid players, in particular one goal scorer to complement Rooney, then they will likely fall short in the early knockout stages with perhaps a quarter-final spot at best.
There are other less likely contenders but the strongest ones would be Italian duo Roma and Milan yet the two sides have a number of limitations such as their restricted budget for bringing in players and in the case of the Rossoneri an aging squad. Milan will need Brazilian stars Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato to stay and will hope a capable coach will take charge at Milanello to promote a few promising players from the youth sector and sign a number of quality players to reinforce the team. As for Roma they have do not have a deep bench and their first team is often riddled with injuries due to the age of some key players such as Francesco Totti. It is unlikely either squad will win the Champions League but they can play the role of a spoiler if their stars remain healthy and fit.
It is quite hard to repeat in the Champions League as shown by the famous Milan side in the 1990s which dismantled Barca 4-0 in an epic encounter only to loss the next year in the final to Ajax Amsterdam who in turn were defeated the following year by Juventus. The Bianconeri would go on to play in two more consecutive finals yet the curse of repeating would also prove to be their downfall despite having the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero (at his peak).
	<a href="http:\/\/polldaddy.com/poll/3246497/">Team to Win Champions League Next Season?</a><a href="http:\/\/polldaddy.com/features-surveys/">online surveys</a>

What Next For Inter After Winning The Champions League? - World Soccer Talk

What Next For Inter After Winning The Champions League?

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>The Champions League will feature a hotly contested tie between Italian champions Inter and English club Chelsea. There are many story-lines beyond Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge as the winner of this Round of 16 clash should have safe passage to the semi-finals where European champions Barcelona will likely be waiting. Below are some of the intriguing features offered by this much anticipated clash:
– England vs Italy: With&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;Italian Coaches managing English clubs (R. Mancini at Manchester City, C. Ancelotti at Chelsea, and G. Zola at West Ham United) and Fabio Capello in charge of England the comparison between the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A has taken another twist. Critics point to the fact the Premiership is attracting more viewership worldwide and are backed by the financial muscle of some of the&nbsp; English clubs (Chelsea and Man. City) but they should not overlook the tight race for European places in Italy as well as the&nbsp;superior technical approach of the weaker Italian clubs (compared to the weaker English sides). Milan and Liverpool went head-to-head twice in the final and it is all square despite the fact the Liverpool win was a miraculous one.
-Ancelotti vs Mourinho: Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho are not exactly on the best of terms. While in Italy, Ancelotti was in charge of Milan and had a tense public relationship with Inter’s Mourinho. The rivalry between the two only gets worse considering Ancelotti is now at the helm in Stamford Bridge which deep inside must surely irritate Mourinho who really did not want to leave Chelsea.
– Abramovich vs Moratti: Both club presidents are desperate for European success with Massimo Morattisupposedly letting go of Roberto Mancini for failing to bring the prestigious trophy to Milan while hiring Mourinho for the sake of winning the Champions League. Interestingly, Roman Abramovich&nbsp;fired Mourinho due to&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;factors but&nbsp;mainly used the inability of the Portuguese Coach to&nbsp;win in Europe as his reason. Abramovich wants to bring the European trophy to Stamford Bridge for the first time while Moratti wants to win the Champions League after a dry spell of more than four decades.
-Drobga vs Eto’o: Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o are considered two of the most dangerous and lethal attackers in the world. Both hail from the African continent and they will be aiming to show who is the best goal scorer from Africa. Eto’o currently has the edge in terms of honours having won the Champions League on two occasions with Barcelona while Drogba has yet to win in Europe. Drogba has been in stunning form for his club scoring 17 goals in 20 league appearances while Eto’o has 8 goals in 17 matches in Serie A.
Both clubs are leading their respective league table and have plenty of talent with players such as Frank Lampard and Drogba on Chelsea’s squad compared to Inter’s Wesley&nbsp; Sneijder and Eto’o. Will Mourinho’s desire to put one over his old club drive the&nbsp;Nerazzurri players to overcome Chelsea or will Abramovich prove his decision to fire Mourinho is vindicated on route to winning in Europe?

Inter-Chelsea: Sub-plots Make Tie One To Watch - World Soccer Talk

Inter-Chelsea: Sub-plots Make Tie One To Watch

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>The Serie A season has perhaps been overshadowed by the struggles of Juventus which have culminated in the firing of Coach Ciro Ferrara. While it has been gloomy in Turin, the city of Milan has witnessed the revival of the Rossoneri but more importantly the continued dominance of the Nerazzurri on the domestic scene.
Coach Jose Mourinho has his Inter squad on the right path towards winning the Scudetto and potentially the Coppa Italia if he fields a strong side in the remaining rounds starting with the semi-final against Fiorentina. Mourinho has been a major force for the Nerazzurri and his contribution is particularly significant from the psychological perspective as he is a successful motivator who usually excels at getting the best out of his players while irritating the opponents. Mourinho has won in Portugal as well as England and has stuck to the winning trend since taking the helm at Inter. Former Inter Coach and current Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini has paved the way for Mourinho’s success and it is now up to the Portuguese to take things a step further. Can Mourinho bring European glory back to the Nerazzurri?
He certainly has a strong foundation highlighted by a combination of experience and skill in the shape of players such as Javier Zanetti and Wesley Sneijder. Inter will in all likelihood retain the Serie A crown as Milan have stuttered in the two derby matches while Juventus are in an unenviable position outside the top four. The other teams are not equipped to challenge the Nerazzurri for the Italian league.
In the Coppa Italia Mourinho’s players succeeded in turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win thanks to a late winner scored by Mario Balotelli. The victory sealed the fate of Juventus Coach Ciro Ferrara who was sacked the following day and replaced by former Inter and Milan Coach Alberto Zaccheroni. Inter’s biggest challenge will come in the next round against a highly talented but inconsistent Fiorentina side. The Nerazzurri can overcome la Viola provided Mourinho relies on the core players for those fixtures.
As for Europe, Mourinho will be fired up for the emotional return to London to take on former club Chelsea. Ironically the Portuguese was let go because he supposedly failed to bring the European Cup to Stamford Bridge. To add a further twist to the much anticipated clash between the two sides, Chelsea is now managed by none other than former Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti. Mourinho and Ancelotti are not exactly fond of each other and this should add another layer in what appears to be an intriguing and complex European tie. It will be quite difficult for Mourinho’s current club to beat the old one but if this occurs then who could bet against Inter winning the treble this season?
<a href="http:\/\/answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2618552/">Will Inter Win The Treble?</a>(<a href="http:\/\/www.polldaddy.com">polls</a>)

Can Inter Achieve The Treble? - World Soccer Talk

Can Inter Achieve The Treble?

The annual Trofeo TIM pre-season tournament is today in Turin between Italy’s top three clubs. For more on this event see my article, <a href="http:\/\/serieaweekly.blogspot.com/2008/07/trofeo-tim-in-turin.html" title="Trofeo Tim In Turin">Trofeo TIM In Turin</a>

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