Serie A Preview: Inter

He’s only been here a matter of weeks but already Mourinho is making himself new enemies. Predictably, the first target was Juventus’ Claudio Ranieri, also Mourinho predecessor at Chelsea, with a tit-for-tat squabble over each other’s winning mentality.

Mourinho’s criticism of Ranieri will obviously win him points with the Inter fans not that anyone needed any convincing of his abilities. Few however, seem to appreciate that what Mourinho does best is making his players comfortable enough to play their best football. His bluster is simply one of the ways he ensures that comes about.

Already, his work is making an impact. Dejan Stankovic, who Inter wanted to get rid of for much of the summer, is making a mockery of their desire to buy Frank Lampard such have been his early season performances in midfield. If Mourinho manages to repeat this trick with Adriano, then surely it would be enough for him to justify his hefty wage packet.

Of course, that is an exaggeration. Inter still want to win the title but what they’re really desperate for is the Champions League. Just as it was at Chelsea, it will be on delivering on that objective that Mourinho will be judged.

Key Man: That Roberto Mancini was on the way out was evidenced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s continuous disregard and disrespect towards his manager at the tail end of last season. The Swede will find that Mourinho is much less malleable yet the Portuguese manager will be aware that if he wants to win he need Ibrahimovic to be at his best.

Best Bit of Business: He’s not a player that Inter really needed but Mancini’s transfer from Roma will, if anything, ensure that their creativity isn’t reliant on Ibrahimovic’s form and

Keep an eye out for…Mario Balotelli. Ok, so he’s not exactly a player of whom little is known but the young striker really deserved to be tagged as a phenomenal prospect. For one so young he displays incredible maturity and composure, and Mourinho is bound to put much faith in him.

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