One of the more exciting days of the European club football season is the day the Champions League group stage is drawn.

The 32 teams that have qualified for the group stage are drawn into eight, four-team groups.  Before that happens, all teams are broken into four pots, labeled A through D, where they are grouped according to a team’s strength (as determined by a formula called a coefficient).  Each of the eight groups can have no more than one team from each pot, no more than one team from a country.  The eight groups end up pretty even.

The draw is fun because you end up with a series of matches which, in addition to being high profile based on the quality of the teams involved, are rare.  In the days before the draw, you start considering the possibilities and potential story lines:  Chelsea and Fiorentina in a group, forcing Adrian Mutu to play the club he owes £14 million; Marseille being slotted with Arsenal months after having sold them Samir Nasri, and potentially getting Bayern Munich in the group, so they would have to face Franck Ribery; Barcelona being slotted with a Zenit St. Petersburg team whose star, Andrei Arshavin, so badly wanted to play at Camp Nou; FC Porto being grouped with Inter Milan and facing Jose Mourinho.

Here’s how the eight groups ended up being drawn, with the clubs listed in order of the group they were drawn from:  A to D.  Continue Reading »

The story coming out of the first week of Portugal’s season could have been the continued excellent of FC Porto or Sporting Club of Portugal, but as they did last year with their turnstile coaching position and curious roster management, the storied Benfica club making themselves into a curiosity is the most interesting headline in the Superliga.

Benfica finished a shocking fourth last season despite having a much better goal differential than third place finishing Vitoria de Guimaraes. This relegated them to the UEFA Cup, which undoubtedly gave them a nice taste in their mouth was they saw Guimares bow out of Champions League before the group stage. Benfica may be right to believe they would have beaten FC Basel.

Benfica is a club that’s been European Champions twice. They’ve been to the final of the Champions League seven times and are part of Portugal’s big three clubs along with Porto and Sporting CP, and in bringing in Pablo Aimar and Jose Antonio Reyes from the Spanish league looked ready to challenge Sporting, if not Porto.

That challenge will have to wait until Benfica can prove able to manage Rio Ave. You know Rio Ave? The club that finished second in the Liga de Honra last season? They, apparently, are capable of competing with Benfica, drawing with the Portuguese giants 1-1 on Sunday. For Benfica, tackling Porto and Sporting CP will have to wait.

In the interim, the other top teams handled their business against opening weekend speed bumps. Sporting Lisbon gave Trofense, last season’s second division champions, a rude introduction to the top tier, defeating them 3-1 in Lisbon. Sporting CP scored their three goals within the first 28 minutes and cruised the rest of the way.

Porto looked to be slightly more bothered in the absence of start Ricardo Quaresma, whose continues to try and recovery from an injury which sidelined him throughout the preseason. For Inter Milan fans this means he will be at the San Siro by the end of the week. If that’s the case, Porto may have shown themselves capable of surviving, with a 2-0 final score belying a lop-sided match. Porto was able to consistent pressure Belenenses goaltender Julio Cesar, who got a rude introduction to Portuguese football, playing his first game after coming over from Brazil’s Botafogo. The 21-year-old will see better days, though if Quaresma stays at Porto, last week’s match may prove to be a blessing. Porto again looks the league’s class.

Whether that class will extend beyond Portugal was the question today as both Porto and Sporting were drawn into their Champions League groups. With both teams in Pot B (the second level), they will be expected to make it into the knock-out stage. Porto faces a tough draw, grouped with Arsenal, Fenerbahce, and Dinamo Kiev. Fenerbahce advances to last season’s Champions League quarterfinals, while Dinamo Kiev destroyed Spartak Moscow in qualifying to get to the group stage. You will see Porto picked anywhere from first to fourth.

Sporting CP was drawn into the thinnest group, with Barcelona being the clear class of a quartet that also includes FC Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk. Though both Basel and Shakhtar proved themselves tough in qualifying, Sporting will not have Porto’s excuse of a tough group should they fail to reach the knock-out phase of the tournament.

Today (Friday), five Portuguese teams will be draw into the UEFA Cup first round. Vitoria de Guimaraes, eliminated from the Champions League by Basel, will be joined by Benfica, Vitoria de Setubal, Maritimo, and Sporting Braga. In theory, Benfica is one of the tournament’s five or six top teams, but does that mean, were they in the UEFA Cup, Rio Ave would also be favorites?

WFP Portuguese Superliga Club Rankings

	Rank	Last Week	Club
	1	N/A	Porto This spot will be theirs until shown they don’t deserve it. It’s just the respect they deserve. Hulk got his first goal.
	2	N/A	Sporting CP Like Porto, started this season where they left off the last.
	3	N/A	Nacional Two goal win on the road to kick off the season gets them an early, lofty rankings.
	4	N/A	Naval Strong showing against Maritimo was a mild surpise, but a second minute goal is often all you need in the Portuguese Liga.
	5	N/A	Vitoria de Setubal Guimaraes my not have shown well in Champions League qualifying, but a point on the road against last season’s third place finisher gets a decent rankings.
	6	N/A	Sporting de Braga Authors of one of the four victories by at least two goals. They will have the chance to show themselves on Monday when they host Sporting CP.
	7	N/A	Vitoria de Guimaraes It my not be fair given these rankings are domestic affairs, but I can’t help but remember their Champions League qualifier against FC Basel when making this list.
	8	N/A	Belenenses They were the sacrifical lambs for Porto on the opening weekend, and while they probably were farther from the champions than the 2-0 score indicated, they won’t be judged too harshly. It was not a match any team would in this league would have been expected to win.
	9	N/A	Estrela da Amadora They got three points at home in a match against two of the lower finishers from last season. It’s the type of win that should help distinguish them at the end of the season, should things go poorly.
	10	N/A	Benfica Made me look absolutely foolish. Just days after I said they could threaten Porto at the top of the league, they draw against the team I predicted to finish last. Nuno Gomes got their goal.
	11	N/A	Rio Ave Congratulations to one of the promoted teams on getting a piont from Benfica.
	12	N/A	Academica Held off the scoreboard in their visit to Amadora.
	13	N/A	Maritimo A disappointing first weekend for last year’s fifth place finisher saw them give a lower rankign team three points. They trailed for 88 minutes of their match.
	14	N/A	Trofense Another of the promoted clubs, were sacrificed to Sporting CP. Is this a Portuguese tradition? To sacrifice the promoted clubs to the Champions League qualifiers on week one? How tribal.
	15	N/A	Leixoes Gave up three goals to Nacional and looks to again be battling relegation. Only the referee bribery scandal saved them last season.
	16	N/A	Pacos de Ferreira Failed to score in their home opener and, like Leixoes, looks destined to struggle to keep their place in the Liga.

I miss Jose Mourinho in the Premiership, think he’s a great coach, and still wonder why Chelsea would let him go without having somebody like a Luiz Felipe Scolari ready to replace him immediately. It’s all working out fine at Stamford Bridge (even if the firing may have cost them three trophies last season), but my English language league lots a lot of entertainment value when Mourinho went east. Nobody combines honesty, humor, and arrogance more brilliantly than The Special One.

Those qualities are in full view in Mourinho’s comments on Andriy Shevchenko. Continue Reading »

One week after being on the verge of a move to AS Roma, Fiorentina star striker Adrian Mutu has signed an extension with La Viola that will keep him at the club through the summer of 2012. The extension contains a raise on his salary of about ten percent, making this contract extension less of an upgrade for the Romanian star and more of a pledge. Mutu’s reputation suffered a bit during the Roma ordeal because he had said, shortly before, that he wanted to stay at Fiorentina for life. Upset La Viola fans might want to note that their star has essentially taken less money to finish out his career with their club.

It is unlikely to assuage those committed to bitterness towards Mutu.   Thankfully, those seem relatively few.  For many fans, it is hard to think if terms of sympathy as it concerns a “mere” ten percent wage.  Over the next few seasons, as star players are signed or re-upped at their clubs, La Viola fans might want to note the find of money that Mutu passed up.  It will be notable.

But with the contract issue behind player and club, Fiorentina can now concentrate on their Champions League qualifying match-up against Slavia Prague.  Due to start in just under two weeks, Fiorentina has a difficult match-up against the Czech Republic club.  If Fiorentina can not solve problems at the back that have manifest  during the preseason, they will lose this tie.  The gap between Fiorentina (the fourth place team from Serie A) and the champions of the Grambrinus liga is not so big that Cesare Prandelli’s team can afford to be off their game.

Regardless of how they perform in Champions League, Fiorentina can use the knowledge that Mutu will be in fold to focus on re-qualifying for Champions League:  finishing in Serie A’s top four.  Inter has struggled to find their rhythm while implementing Jose Mourinho’s new system while AC Milan has looked old and thin.  In the early going, those two look most vulnerable, but Fiorentina must be ready from the get-go as they host Juventus in Round 1.

With the Mutu saga now over, Prandelli can stay preparing his team for their fights.

Links
Mutu Extends Fiorentina Contract
Mutu Signs Contract Extension
Mutu to extend La Viola deal

Luiz Felipe Scolari has ruled star striker Didier Drogba out of Chelsea’s season opener against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge on August 17.

Drogba has been sidelined all preseason with a knee injury that has been slow to recover.  The current prognosis has the Ivorian returning for Chelsea’s third Premiership match, their derby against Tottenham on August 31.  This would mean he would also miss the Blues’ trip to Wigan on the 24th.

Scolari said that he will be cautious with Drogba’s health, a position enabled by the resurgent former of Niclas Anelka, about to start his first full season with the club.  With Chelsea’s other Ivorian star Salomon Kalou in Beijing representing the Ivory Coast the the Olympics, Scolari stands to start Florent Malouda and Joe Cole in the wings of Anelka.

Drogba missed half of Chelsea’s Premiership fixtures last season with an array of knocks.  The Blues’ lineup with noticeably dependent on him, relying on their target man as their main means of transitioning out of their own end.  This season, with the acquisition of Deco, Scolari opening up Chelsea’s style, and Michael Essien no longer splitting his time between midfield and right back, Chelsea should be better equipped to handle Drogba’s absence.  If Anelka can carry over his preseason form into August 17th’s match with Portsmouth, Drogba’s absence could be completely mitigated.

Drogba’s injury further complicates his unsettled status at the Bridge.  Throughout the summer, Drogba had been linked with a move away from London, though no firm offers materialized from the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Barcelona.  Chelsea has since offered their best scoring threat a contract extension which Drogba is yet to sign (though there are reports will will sign the deal this week).

Another injury-laden season for the 30-year-old, who has a particularly physical style of play, would only complicate Drogba’s already tenuous situation with the club.

Quotes
“Didier will not play in our first game against Portsmouth and will probably miss the second against Wigan. If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that.” - Scolari
“But when you have a knee injury, you just never know.” - Scolari
“He’s getting better and is working with a fitness coach back at the training ground. I hope he will be ready to start training next week. But he will not play until he is in good condition.” - Scolari
“If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that, Tottenham on 31 August.” - Scolari

Links
Drogba ruled out of season opener
Anelka hoping to fill void
Drogba likely to miss opening two matches
Drogba to miss start of the season
Drogba to miss start of season
Drogba ruled out of Chelsea’s season opener
Drogba out of opener
Drogba will miss start of season
Striker blow for opening day
Drogba to miss start of Premier League season
Drogba to miss start of season

Luca Toni did not make Bayern Munich’s trip to Japan this week, leaving München to start Miroslav Klöse and Lukas Podolski up top.  That combination my have to persist for a while longer as Toni not only is expected to miss not only this week’s friendly against Inter Milan but also the team’s season opener in two weeks when the club hosts Hamburg.

Bayern’s general manager said today that the earliest Toni could be back looks like the season opener, leaving the total duration on the injury as close to one month.

For a club that has built up as much talent as Munich it should not be that big a deal of Toni is not ready.  Their two world class striker’s aside, it is better to have Toni healthy for when the schedule really picks up (when the Champions League group stage starts).  There is no reason to rush him back when rest will solve his injury problems.  Bayern continues to be wisely conservative with his calf problem.

While losing a player like Toni is always a blow, the news about Frank Ribery should help offset the Bayern fans’ disappointment.  News of the surgery Ribery was to have yesterday was overblown, with the procedure only done to remove a screw from his surgically repaired ankle.  Ribery can now concentrate on verifying his Euro 2008 injury has healed while rebuilding his fitness.  Bayern seems optimistic that his fitness will return quickly and are now leaving open the possibility that their French star will be available for the Hamburg match.

Quotes

“You cannot take muscular injuries lightly.” - Uli Hoeness, general manager, Bayern Munich
“I think the earliest [Toni] could possibly be back is for the opening game of the season against Hamburg.” - Hoeness
“Things are moving pretty quickly with Franck.” - Hoeness
“He (Ribery) is not a heavyweight after all - more like a flea.” - Hoeness
“The procedure took place without any complication and Ribery has already begun his physiotheraphy.” -  Bayern Munich

Links

Toni blow for Bayern Munich
Ribery undergoes surgery
Ribery to undergo second operation
Ribery undergoes surgery

During the hectic summer transfer season, there is something comforting about being reminded some players are synonymous with their clubs. While that might seem trite given the themes of the Gareth Barry story have dominated the summer, I volunteer to be the Pollyanna when considering Javier Zanetti, who is on the verge of signing a three year extension to stay with FC Internazionale Milano.

Zanetti joined Inter from Argentina’s Banfield in 1995 and has been at the San Siro every since. In 1999 he was named club captain and has lead the club to three Scudetto and two Coppa Italia, having made just short of six hundred appearances for the Nerazzurri. In demeanor and example, he is a near prototypical captain, and there may be no player in the world at a big club more readily associated with the team. It is impossible to think of Inter without Zanetti or Zanetti apart from Inter.

At thirty-four, Zanetti remains a valuable contributor for Inter, but by there is no guarantee that at the end of this new, three year deal he will be a regular. The other club which occupies the San Siro have their exemplar of an ageless wonder in Paulo Maldini, but the Milan defender is the exception in the club world. There are few thirty-four year old players lining-up regularly at that level. This not offer not only secures Zanetti through the end of his career, it is an acknowledgment from the club. Inter will gladly eat one, two seasons of this deal in appreciation for Zanetti’s contributions.

One of the key, recent contributions from Il Trattore that will be forgotten as the season goes on has been his early endorsements of new coach Jose Mourinho.  Zanetti has been vocal in his support of Mourinho since Inter’s first training sessions this summer.  Any kind of controversy that could have been derived from  the lineups changes which will happen, Mourinho’s rigor and physical demands, or the perceived ego of Inter’s new hire can get no legs with Zanetti on board.  The captain has be effusive in his happiness with and respect for Mourinho, making the Portuguese coach’s assimilation much easier.  It is a subtle, easily forgotten contribution, but it is the kind of support clubs long for from their leaders.

Also serving as captain for the Argentina national team, Zanetti should have one more World Cup in him. After the summer of 2010, when he will have one more season left on his Inter deal, Zanetti will be thirty-six years old. Depending on how Inter play over the next two seasons and Argentina performs in South Africa, Il Capitano might be done at thirty-six. Whether that happens, Zanetti will be, as one headline below says, Inter for life.

Quotes

“Inter is my family, I can’t think of my future without the Inter shirt.” - Zanetti
“I thank president (Massimo) Moratti and the club for the great faith they have always had in me.” - Zanetti

Links

Zanetti at Inter for life
Zanetti signs new deal with Inter
Mourinho is a boost - Zanetti
Zanetti eyes instant success
Zanetti impressed by Mourinho’s training methods

Reports from Spanish radio have Rafael van der Vaart moving to Real Madrid, having been sold by Hamburg to the Spanish champions for €9 million. Spanish radio has proven itself particularly overzealous this summer, so take this relay with some caution. Even if these reports prove themselves to be overzealous, van der Vaart moving to Madrid is a real possibility.

Though (like the whole Dutch team) van der Vaart faded towards the end of the tournament, the central midfielder drew further attention to himself during the Netherlands’ impressive displays during Euro 2008. He would slot in well right behind Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy, though he would be slightly redundant to Real Madrid mainstay Guti. However, as six years younger than Guti, his acquisition would start a transition that need not take place immediately.

Guti is 31 and should not expect to have to play the rigorous schedule an attacking, central midfielder for a Champions League staple would have to maintain. Van der Vaart would be a great compliment to him and the rest of the star-studded Madrid attacking midfield, which also boasts countrymen Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.

There is no truth to the rumors that, having added their fourth player from the current Dutch senior national team, Real Madrid will be wearing orange uniforms next season.

Real Madrid does not exactly need van der Vaart and appears to be taking advantage of a good deal, begging the question of why other teams did not make a stronger play. Van der Vaart is at the point in his career where he only need move to a big club, but there where other big clubs that could have gotten him. Van der Vaart moves to Real Madrid for less money than Inter Milan paid for Sulley Muntari, something Jose Mourinho can not feel great about.

In a season where a revitalized Barcelona and a surging Atlético Madrid stand to give Real new challenges, van der Vaart provides a great reinforcement for their title.

Quotes

“I would be disappointed if he leaves the club, why should we let such a player go? It is ridiculous to do that.” - Martin Jol, coach, Hamburg

“We know what is written in his contact with Hamburg, and we know all the figures and we can’t be sure if he’s going or not.” - Jol
“He is a player that Schuster and the coaching staff like a lot and the deal is close. We are waiting to reach a definitive agreement with Hamburg, but it shouldn’t be difficult.” - Ramon Calderon, president, Real Madrid

Links

Hamburg coach Jol can’t stop van ver Vaart from leaving
Van der Vaart signs for Real Madrid: report
Real close in on van der Vaart
Real close to van der Vaart deal

He’s the best available striker nobody’s talking about, a player who has performed for elite clubs and championship winners whose moving not for lack of form but for a change of approach at his club. He’s in the prime of his career and doesn’t seem that particular about the club he joins.

Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o is the forgotten man. He just turned 27 and scored 20 goals in 28 games for Barça last season. With Pep Guardiola’s hiring at Camp Nou he has seen his place in the lineup handed to (presumably) Thierry Henry, but that does not mean he couldn’t fit into another club’s lineup. Quite the opposite, there are few clubs in the world who Eto’o would not improve.

I don’t think Barcelona should keep Eto’o. There are other issues in play so that a divorce makes sense. But he will be leaving Barça at the top of his game, helping to explain why, according to Barcelona, “four of five big clubs” are continuing to explore the idea of bringing him in.

Specific names: Joan Laporta says he’s talked to AC Milan and Inter Milan, with no concrete offers tabled. Inter Milan’s interest is absolutely mind-boggling considering their depth at striker. Eto’o might be the best option, if added to the group, but the marginal improvement he provides is not worth the financial cost.

AC Milan, however, is a different story. Carlo Ancelotti has said the club will keep its Christmas tree formation, with the main question being who will play at the top of the tree. Kaká and Ronaldinho will play at the next level, with Clarence Seedorf getting time, too. But up top there is some question as to whether Alexandre Pato will step into Filipo Inzaghi’s spot, Marco Borriello will be there after his injury, or Inzaghi will find a way to keep his place. Needless to say, Eto’o would be the best option here.

More than improving their current roster, Eto’o may be the piece needed to lift Milan to a true Scudetto contender. Many believe the Rossoneri are already there, but I find it difficult to believe the additions they’ve made will solve their two main problems from last year: age and complacency. Mathieu Flamini does help these issues, but Ronaldinho and Gianluca Zambrotta do not. What they do is raise the overall talent level of the squad, always a good thing. Talent will be needed in abundance if Milan is going to be able to overcome the younger, hungrier clubs.

Eto’o does not solve the hunger problem, and he does not make the club that much younger (especially if he ends up replacing Pato instead of Inzaghi), but he is a big boost to the talent compartment. It’s difficult not to become awed by the possibility to Eto’o being supported by Ronaldinho and Kaká, playing in front of Andrea Pirlo, Flamini, and Gennaro Gattuso.

(author pauses to exhale)

A move to the English Premiership has also been rumored.  Eto’o could fit into any of the top clubs, with the possible exception of Liverpool.  For Manchester United, he would be that target option they lack.  For Arsenal, he would start the long-rumored swap of Eto’o-for-Emmanuel Adebayor, with Arsene Wagner to profit upwards for £10 million in the process.  For Chelsea, he could play with or replace Didier Drogba, who is still unsettled.  And the summer’s old rumor, Eto’o to Tottenham, could still happen depending on what Juande Ramos decides to do with Dimitar Berbatov.  In almost all these cases, Eto’o improves the destination club.

The Emmanuel Adebayor part of this saga is one of the stories comical strains.  Eto’o has scored 93 three goals in four seasons at Barcelona, establishing himself as one of the most efficient strikers in the world.  Barcelona’s willingness to replace him with a player who has had one good year being supported by one of the world’s best midfielders (Cesc Fabregas) is curious.  That they’re willing to lose money in the process seems a joke.  Adebayor is younger and commands a greater physical presence than Eto’o, but Eto’o is the better player and will be the better player throughout the next contract each sign with their new clubs.

And that, Eto’o’s skill, has been lost under his seemingly perpetual wantaway status.  Samuel Eto’o is an elite player.  For almost every one of the clubs mentioned, he would come in and immediately be the side’s best striker.

Quotes

“Samuel has to have an agreement, after this we will start negotiations. But first he has to be happy.” - Txiki Begiristain, technical secretary, Barcelona
“We are waiting for this agreement. If he moves, it’ll be to a big club, of course. There are four or five clubs interested.” - Begiristain

Links

Big clubs vying for Eto’o
Barca: Eto’o must have agreement
Barca await Eto’o agreement
Clubs lining up to secure Eto’o’s signature
Clubs lining up for Eto’o swoop
Eto’o Must Strike Deal to Go - Txiki
Big clubs vying for Eto’o

Frank Lampard had to know Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan were going to find somebody else to fill the central midfielder’s role this season should he not leave Chelsea this summer and join his former coach in Italy, but it’s unlikely he figured Inter to move for somebody like Sulley Muntari.  It is a move that could close his best exit route from Stamford Bridge.  If the midfielder really does want to finish his career outside England, as he has said before he wants to do, he may look back with disappointment at the decisions he’s made this summer.

After it became clear Lampard would not be coming for the start of their season, Inter moved for Portsmouth’s Sulley Muntari, completing that acquisition today.  Muntari is not a one-season solution.  The 24-year-old Ghana international signed a four year deal and is still improving.  While a midfield that would see Lampard and Muntari playing together next fall is enticing, consider the amount Inter’s spent on Muntari.  The €14 million they gave Portsmouth is ther Lampard money.  It’s unlikely they would allocate so much money to one spot, especially considering the salary Lampard would require on top of a transfer fee.

Of course, next summer Lampard’s transfer fee would be nothing.  With his contract up, Lampard could join any side he wants, and if he wants to play with Mourinho badly enough, Inter could find a way to afford him.  Mourinho’s hinting at wanting to thin out a deep and star-studded striker force.  Money will be available should Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Adriano move on.

It is possible, though, Inter will be far less interested in bringing Lampard in one season from now.  A 31-year-old midfielder standing to make £150,000 per week is a precarious proposition.  Lampard has a reputation for being a very physically fit player, so playing at a high level for two, three, four additional years would not be a surprise.  But wanting a five year deal from Chelsea, would Lampard settle for less from Inter, especially considering his is likely to be hearing offers from other clubs around the continent.  One team will be willing to offer him a five year deal, even if it means potentially having to eat the last year-or-so when Lampard won’t be playing at the same level.  It’s possible Inter will not be that team, though.

One team that is willing to make that deal is Chelsea, who is reported to have a £150,000 per week, four year offer extended to Lampard.  Some reports have the deal being five years in length.  If so, Lampard may want to take advantage of that offer now.  He may desire a shift of scenery and want to rejoin Mourinho, but lift for him at the Bridge is not that bad.  He is a beloved player for a club that is committed to staying at the top of the footballing world.  He has a firm offer in front of him, whereas there is some uncertainty as to whether there will be deals out there come next summer.  One injury, one tactical change from new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari can see Lampard’s market value dip.  For somebody who does seem to be angling for a deal of maximum value, he may want to take the chickens in hand.

Even if Inter has moved on, you can see a team like Milan willing to break the bank for Lampard.  Clubs like Juventus or Bayern Munich could also, depending on what happens this season, be looking to bring in a star, central midfielder.  Chelsea may also keep its offer on the table into next summer.  Whatever the hypothetical scenarios for next summer, Lampard’s immediate options have narrowed with the Muntari deal.  If he wants to secure his future before January, he now has Chelsea.  And that’s it.

Quotes

“Muntari will be our last acquisition, now we must work on reducing the squad as coach Jose Mourinho wants 22 players and three goalkeepers.” - Gabriele Oriali, sporting director, Inter Milan
“I’m not disappointed by Lampard. The important thing for a player is to do what makes him happy. If his decision is to stay at Chelsea I accept that.” - Mourinho

Links

Inter Milan end interest in Lampard
Jose Expects Lampard to Stay
Inter Give Mixed Messages Over Lampard
Muntari ends Inter Lamps chase
Inter sign Muntari and give up on Lampard
Inter rule out Lampard after Muntari signs
Muntari will be last signing, say Inter Milan
Inter still keen on Lampard