Tearful Mourinho undecided on future
Reuters - Sunday 16 May 2010, 16:42
MILAN - Inter Milan are so used to winning
titles that immediate celebrations of their fifth scudetto in a
row on Sunday were slightly muted and Jose Mourinho stayed even
more silent before being persuaded to speak.
The coach again acknowledged he was unhappy in Italy and
hinted he could leave Inter after Saturday's Champions League
final against Bayern Munich in Madrid, where his side can secure
an unprecedented Italian treble.
"This is not my home. This is not an easy place to work and
be happy," he told reporters after his side's 1-0 win at Siena
on the last day of the Serie A season.
"There has been no time to think. Now it's an historic week
for Inter and we want to give everything we have.
"Then I need to relax, spend two or three days thinking
about myself and what will make me happier and then I will
decide."
The Portuguese, with rare tears in his eyes, had earlier
hugged his players and waved to fans but initially shunned
microphones having been boycotting Italian media for months.
Club president Massimo Moratti said he had no idea what his
coach's plans were amid continued media speculation the former
Chelsea boss could leave for Real Madrid.
Moratti just wanted to celebrate his club's 18th league
title, even if his players lifted the trophy in a somewhat
deja-vu manner before really starting to party.
"Let's hope we can complete the treble now," he told
reporters before remarking on the nervous finish where relegated
Siena almost equalised and handed the title to Roma.
"It's always like that with Inter," smiled Moratti,
celebrating his 65th birthday.
Inter fans unable to reach Siena set off flares and waved
giant flags in Milan's main square but again the celebrations
were slightly reserved given the big match coming on Saturday.
"We will celebrate this scudetto tonight, rest tomorrow and
then concentrate on another final on Saturday," Inter right back
Maicon told Sky.
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, whose side beat Chievo 2-0, was
gracious in defeat but hailed his team for going 24 games
unbeaten during the season having lost their first two matches
and seen boss Luciano Spalletti resign in September.
"I must thank my players because they have done a truly
remarkable thing. We were bottom of the league," he said, aware
the club has large debts and transfer activity has been minimal.
"We have done something incredible. We reopened the race and
we fought until the end with all our force."
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