José Mourinho’s Inter Milan (2009/10 season)

Introduction

In 2010, Inter Milan had their best season to date, winning the Italian treble consisting of winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia and famously, the Champions League. To put how well these achievements are in context, Inter became the sixth European club to complete a treble and the first and the only Italian club to achieve this feat to date.

Under Mourinho, Inter were a highly organised and defensive side, where in Serie A they scored the most and conceded the least amount of goals (75 and 34 respectively). Tactically, they were complete, which helped to a very large degree when they came up against top sides, such as FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

Starting Eleven

José Mourinho utilised a different system than we’re used to with him during his time with I Nerazzurri, in the 4–3–1–2 system, otherwise known as the 4–4–2 diamond. This was their best starting eleven across all competitions:

Júlio César

Zanetti — Lúcio — Samuel — Maicon

Stanković — Cambiasso — Motta

Sneijder

Eto’o — Milito

Defensive Phase

Like many Mourinho teams, Inter didn’t press high in most games. Typically, there would be little pressing involved, as well as a deep line. This idea was dubbed “the Italian way” by former Manchester United striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy, where he described the way of defending by Italian teams as teams that “all stay behind. They’re having none of it. They’d rather not concede than score.”

Inter make it very hard for the opponents to create any meaningful chances from central areas, by putting four players that defend narrowly in front of four defenders. The defensive midfielder, usually Cambiasso, is in front of the four defenders, adding extra solidity.

Here, there’s a high concentration of players in the middle, which forces the player on the ball out wide.

When it came to pressing the ball, normally Eto’o and Milito would be the first to press. When the opposition reaches Inter’s half, their role is to stay in areas close to the halfway line, ready to counter attack.

Here, Eto’o is applying immediate pressure to the goalkeeper. Diego Milito is close by.

Wesley Sneijder usually helps both strikers in pressing but only a little bit. His main role when defending is to assist the other three midfielders of the diamond.

The reason why the utilisation of a diamond is so important for Inter, is because in Serie A, teams usually like to progress play through central areas. Their wing play is almost limited. So by Inter defending with a lot of players in the middle and very narrowly too, it makes the task of breaking them down very difficult.

However, in the Champions League, Mourinho had to make a few adjustments. More teams in this competition were dangerous from the wings, which could pose a big problem for Inter’s narrow defending.

If Inter were too narrow, then they’d leave space for the opposition’s wingers. For instance, if they chose to defend narrowly against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, Inter’s fullbacks would’ve been slaughtered by Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm.

What Mourinho chose to do, was he tasked the striker on the ball side to help with the ball side midfielder and fullback. For example, Samuel Eto’o would help with Inter’s right wing along with Stanković and Maicon.

Further, Mourinho would’ve played Goran Pandev instead of Thiago Motta or Dejan Stanković, so that he helps Inter’s left back, when they’re defending the left wing.

Here, both Pandev and Eto’o are defending their respective wings, while Milito is at the halfway line waiting for the counter attack.

In these important matches, Inter were more defensive, as they would defend with five players instead of four defenders in the midfield, meaning nine of the ten outfield players would be defending deep in their own half.

As Inter were highly defensive, they would press less often, with the players mainly pressing within their own half.

Attacking Phase

Classic Mourinho here again. Inter Milan thrived on playing quick and direct football, which normally came to fruition from a counter attack.

As mentioned before, Milito would not be actively involved in the defensive phase when the opposition would be in Inter’s half. This is because he would be receiving the ball early once possession is regained, to start a counter attack.

Sometimes it would be Eto’o who would be staying upfront, but it depends on if he is defending the wings (Champions League match) or staying upfront (Serie A match), with Inter defending narrowly. However, in the matches that Eto’o was assigned to defend the wings, there were a few times where his starting position was a little forward. Similarly to Sneijder.

Mourinho believed that Sneijder, Eto’o and Milito were his best options for a counter attack. In most situations, it would be those three that would break at pace as Inter won the ball, with an occasional fourth player breaking with them.

Again, depending on the situation, Inter would look to either play long or short, in order to best aid the counter attack. The most important objective was to reach their opposition’s box in the fastest way possible before the opposition had a decent number of players back.

This is Mourinho’s sub principle of “Transition to the Offensive Phase”, which is taking advantage of the opponent’s disorganisation via a quick transition.

Here, Inter has regained possession in the midfield and they’re counter attacking with four players. A goal was the result of this transition.

In situations when a counter attack wasn’t available, Inter would have their possession occurring in more narrow and central areas rather than going out wide, trying to cross it in. Mourinho chose to utilise the strengths of his midfielders by entrusting players like Sneijder and Stanković to create chances for the strikers in Eto’o and Milito.

However, sometimes they would need width in their attack and this was provided by the fullbacks (both Zanetti and Maicon). Maicon, especially, was an amazing attacking fullback. His offensive output was so effective under Mourinho that he scored a crucial goal in the first leg of the semi final in the Champions League against Barcelona at home.

Here, Maicon has received from a wide position and using his skill, cuts inside at great speed.

Zanetti on the other hand was more effective defensively, which gave Mourinho more flexibility as at times he would play the Argentine as a centre back or as a midfielder.

Sometimes players like Sneijder or Stanković would shoot from distance due to their impressive technique. Sneijder was also very impressive with his free kicks.

Wesley Sneijder unleashes a vicious shot towards goal.

Conclusion

This Inter Milan side was, defensively, one of the best teams Italy has ever produced. This also was one of Mourinho’s finest accomplishments, by winning the treble with Inter.