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Jose Mourinho's brief love affair with Italian football
was ending last night as the former Chelsea boss edged towards a
return to England.
Inter Milan had to deny claims by a Manchester United fan that
he was hit by Mourinho as the team were boarding the coach to leave
Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Stretford police say they are investigating an allegation of
common assault after a complaint was made, with officers asking
United for any CCTV footage of the area outside the players'
entrance.
But as far as Inter fans and the Italian press are concerned,
Mourinho has already been judged guilty of failing in his main task
for the season, with the fall-out likely to be spectacular. And
that will alert Manchester City, Newcastle and perhaps even
Liverpool.
Mourinho's defensive post-match posture after watching his
side's Champions League elimination was an eye-opener for those who
witnessed the Special One at close quarters at Stamford Bridge.
The Inter boss had tried all his tricks before the game, even
trying to change the ball when he claimed United might have an
advantage by using the holders' special gold and red version.
Yet his bleak mood afterwards, glaring at his Italian
interrogators then complaining "I don't have a team good enough to
beat Manchester United" went down like a lead balloon at the San
Siro.
Mourinho outraged most of Italian football last week with a
verbal onslaught on Juventus, Milan, Roma and the media in general,
who he accused of "intellectual prostitution".
And he continued his theme on Wednesday as he added: "I don't
understand the reason behind these questions.
"All Italy will be happy because we were eliminated. But I do
not care. I can tell you why Inter have failed in the past four or
five years, why they couldn't do it in Europe, but suddenly it is
my job to come here and win the Champions League."
Mourinho's aggressive posturing, which made him such a cult
figure in England, has not gone down as well in the land of
calcio.
While Inter are set to retain the Serie A crown they have won
for the past four years - twice, admittedly, off the pitch rather
than on it - under Roberto Mancini, Mourinho's approach has made
him few friends.
