Inter Milan legend striker Diego Milito has revealed what Jose Mourinho said to his players during the iconic clash against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. With a decisive goal, the Argentine cemented his place as the ultimate hero in the historic treble campaign of the 2009 10 season.
The star scored a memorable brace against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. But before reaching the final, the Nerazzurri must beat defending champions Barcelona in the semi-finals. Inter Milan won 3-1 at home in a mythical second-leg clash at Camp Nou. Despite the squad being reduced to 10 players, Inter Milan advanced with an aggregate score of 3-2 thanks to an excellent defensive performance.
Milito recalled what the manager at the time, Jose Mourinho, said before the Catalan game. "Jose Mourinho is a fantastic coach and the architect of all our achievements," the retired striker told FCinternews in an interview with DAZN. "He knows how to manage every moment perfectly. He knows when he needs a stick and when he needs a caresse. Before the final, he put us at ease. His best speech was actually in Barcelona, which was a bit like an early final. ”
It's a very difficult stadium. We had a big lead but still one game to live. We were anxious, and he was calm. Leaders must show calmness in moments of anxiety. He told us that when he won the Champions League with Porto, his son was too young to remember it. Therefore, he asked us to win again. As soon as he got on the pitch he told us that the final was a dream for us, but for Barcelona it was an obsession. The Catalans are desperate to win the Champions League. I met José when I went to Rome last year. We had a group chat and the connection was always there. ”