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We´re even better than last year, says Mourinho

SoccerNews in Serie A 30 Aug 2009

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Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho claimed his Serie A champions are even better than before as he revelled in the emphatic 4-0 derby victory against bitter rivals AC Milan.

After an even first half hour, Inter ran away with the match as Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso was sent-off during a disasterous final quarter of an hour in the first period for the hosts at the San Siro.

They gave away three goals, a penalty and lost a man in that crazy spell as goals from Thiago Motta, Diego Milito, Maicon and Dejan Stankovic in the second half underlined Inter’s supriority over their neighbours.

“We have changed men and mentality. I like winning and I like controlling the game because we manage to dominate the ball,” said Mourinho.

“(Saturday) night I saw ball possession that I never saw last season.

“We were the picture of what we want to be in the future and of the project we need to continue working on.

“We never thought about not winning this match, we took to the pitch with the right ideas and character and we won.

“The result speaks for itself, there’s no discussion. Now we have to go home, have a rest and then start working on the next match.

“I didn’t leave this stadium last week crying after the draw with Bari and I’m not leaving with a bottle of champagne after this win. We’re going forward calmly.”

Inter captain Javier Zanetti claimed this win would send a message to the rest of the division.

“It was a great game against a great team. Our first and third goals were perfect team moves,” he said.

“We have to keep going in this vein because it’s only the beginning of the season but this result sends out an important signal.”

Milan’s players were agreed that the first goal and Gattuso’s dismisal, for two bookings, changed the course of the game.

“Honestly I was expecting things to turn out differently. We were well prepared for this game and I think we lost it in those 10 minutes in which there was the penalty and Gattuso’s sending off,” said goalkeeper Marco Storari.

Milan matched their rivals for half an hour until Motta’s goal following a brilliant team move involving Samuel Eto’o and Milito.

But just six minutes later Gattuso hauled down Eto’o in the box to give away a penalty.

He was somewhat fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a clear professional foul but Milito exerted punishment by dispatching the spot-kick.

Gattuso, who had injured his ankle even before giving away the penalty, wanted to come off but replacement Clarence Seedorf wasn’t ready.

Before he was, Gattuso had hacked down Wesley Sneijder and got a second yellow card.

Rookie Milan coach Leonardo said his captain should have known better.

“When a player is injured it’s only natural that he behaves in a certain way but an expert like Rino (Gattuso) should know how to manage such moments,” he said.

“Clarence wasn’t ready, we couldn’t make the substitution.”

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