Article from Gazzetta

[matty]

A quick translation by me from the Gazzetta. Anyone who mentions babelfish is a fat idiot. Stevie.

 

You can start from the applause that the Red Army has reserved for the 3000 Inter fans at the end of the game. The 11th March, in the return leg, the San Siro will have to be like Anfield: So hot that it's intimidating for the opponents and the officials, and sporting to the end, after the victory.

The sending off of Materazzi has been crucial, but Inter were disappointing before that. Yes, it was predictable that Liverpool would start strongly, giving everything to avoid stalling. But we had to wait for the second half to see a decent counter-attack, and until then accepting the attacks of the 'Rafa boys' []. "For 86 minutes the team played heroically, very well" said Massimo Moratti, and absolves everyone. "I have absolutely no reproaches for Mancini and the team. They shouldn't beat themselves up, they played a good game and gave a good demonstration of tenacity and character."

True, but to score three against Liverpool, we have to see the real Ibrahimovic and a more aggressive game. Inter can do it, but they will have to be perfect. "We'll have to be very calm" added Cambiasso, "becuase it would be a disaster to concede a goal at home. At ten against 11 we defended well. Without the unfortunate deflection off Maicon, it could have finished 0-0. The sending off was definitely important because it impeded our play." Julio Cesar gives an example. "Since I came to Inter we've come back so many times, for example the comeback against Roma in the Italian Super Cup final, from 3-0 down to win 4-3. It will be tough, but it's not finished yet and our fans will be crucial.

Cordoba might not be there. "I felt a lot of pain, very strongly in the knee. Now though we have to look at this calmly. We'll see what the examination says. I don't want any dramas, I wouldn't even dramatise this defeat, there is still the second leg, we have the quality and the chance to get back into it. Here in England, definitely, it's all gone wrong." And without Materazzi, who will be suspended, to lose Cordoba too would be very tough.

 

LIVERPOOL (Inghilterra), 20 febbraio 2008 – Si potrebbe ripartire dall’applauso che la "Reds Army" ha riservato ai tremila tifosi interisti a fine gara. L’11 marzo, nella partita di ritorno, San Siro dovrà essere quello che è stato Anfield: caldo fino a essere intimidatorio per avversari e terna arbitrale, e sportivo alla fine, dopo la vittoria.

IN SALITA – L’espulsione di Materazzi è stata determinante, ma l’Inter dei primi 20-25 minuti ha deluso. Certo, era prevedibile che il Liverpool partisse alla grande, spendendo tanto per evitare lo stallo. Ma per vedere un contropiede efficace s’è dovuto aspettare il secondo tempo, e nel frattempo subire gli attacchi dei "Rafa boys". "Per 86 minuti la squadra ha giocato eroicamente, benissimo", ha detto Massimo Moratti, che quindi assolve tutti: "Non ho assolutamente rimproveri da fare a Mancini ed alla squadra. Anzi, gli dico di non abbattersi, hanno fatto un'ottima partita e dato una buona dimostrazione di tenacia e carattere".

RICETTA CAMBIASSO – Vero, ma per segnare tre gol al Liverpool occorre il vero Ibrahimovic e un gioco più aggressivo. L'Inter può farcela ma dovrà essere perfetta. "Dovremo avere molta calma – ha aggiunto Cambiasso - perché sarebbe micidiale e letale prendere un gol in casa. In dieci contro undici avevamo difeso bene. Senza quella sfortunata deviazione di Maicon, poteva anche finire 0-0. Sicuramente l'espulsione è stata condizionante perché ci ha impedito di fare il nostro gioco ". Julio Cesar fa un esempio concreto: "Da quando sono arrivato all'Inter ho visto tante volte questa squadra ribaltare i risultati, ricordo per esempio la rimonta sulla Roma nella finale della Supercoppa italiana, da 0-3 a 4-3. Sarà dura, ma non è ancora finita e sarà cruciale l’aiuto dei nostri tifosi".

CORDOBA – Chi rischia di non esserci è Ivan Ramiro Cordoba. "Ho sentito un dolore molto, molto forte al ginocchio. Adesso, però, dobbiamo valutare la situazione con calma. Vediamo che cosa dicono gli esami. Ripeto, non voglio fare drammi. E non drammatizzerei neppure su questa sconfitta: c'è ancora la gara di ritorno, abbiamo le qualità e le possibilità per ribaltare il risultato. Qui in Inghilterra, oggettivamente, ci è andato tutto storto...”. E senza Materazzi, che verrà squalificato, perdere anche Cordoba sarebbe davvero pesante.

[Stevie H]

you used google translate didn't you, you fraud?

[Andy @ Allerton]

Funny how they don't mention they were lucky not to concede the penalty for the very obvious handball. Even funnier that they don't mention they were very, very lucky not to have their number 5 sent off (3 yellow card fouls, 1 handball) and their number 8 (5 yellow card fouls and 3 deliberate handballs)

[matty]

Funny how they don't mention they were lucky not to concede the penalty for the very obvious handball. Even funnier that they don't mention they were very, very lucky not to have their number 5 sent off (3 yellow card fouls, 1 handball) and their number 8 (5 yellow card fouls and 3 deliberate handballs)

 

That was just one article. There are many more.

[Cobs]

That was just one article. There are many more.

funny how you chose not to post them

[Rich Gobey]

You didn't bother to translate the second half of the report.

 

Lazy.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

you must be gutted Matty.

 

Buy the ref now, you c****

[matty]

You didn't bother to translate the second half of the report.

 

Lazy.

I translated all of it. You fat ingrate.

[matty]

you must be gutted Matty.

 

Buy the ref now, you c****

No, I'm ecstatic.

 

And last night was more evidence that Inter don't bribe refs. four first half sendings off in five weeks.

[Frosty Jack]

Liverpool bought the ref last night is a popular one around here!

[matty]

Liverpool bought the ref last night is a popular one around here!

I got that from my Inter mate by text.

 

I'll be glad when this tie is done. Don't like this feeling.

[Guest Scot]

Thanks for posting that, matty

[matty]

No problem Scot. I always said you were a nice bloke.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

it was a red card - he can have no complaints.

 

Blue & white s****

Blue & white s****

[Guest Banjo]

Why bother translating? The Italian press reactions are better summarised by the Guardian:-

 

http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsle...2258328,00.html

 

[John am Rhein]

And last night was more evidence that Inter don't bribe refs. four first half sendings off in five weeks.

 

They bribed the refs for that - to create evidence that they don't bribe refs

[Rex Ham]

it was a red card - he can have no complaints.

 

Blue & white s****

Blue & white s****

 

 

No Chance. Not even a yellow. Either of them.

[Spiblish]

No Chance. Not even a yellow. Either of them.

 

The first wasn't - the second was - he had already been warned after 2 OTHER dodgy tackles!

[Hassony]

The first wasn't - the second was - he had already been warned after 2 OTHER dodgy tackles!

 

the first was also a booking, he knew what he was doing

[Gerry]

the first was also a booking, he knew what he was doing

 

 

We'd be spitting teeth if say, Hyypia was sent off in the same way; it was a ridiculous decision. Of course we also got some bad decisions coming our way, most obvious being a clear penalty not awarded.

[Tetti]

He should have been booked for the first time, when he upended Torres after about 2 minutes.

[Des]

he upended Torres

 

Lucky b*****d.

[Leo No.8]

How anyone can say looking over at a player who is easily outpacing you, then running across them deliberately fully ten yards away from the ball isn't a booking is beyond me.

 

Neither foul was anything dangerous, but they were extremely cynical and typical of Italian defending. He'll do all that stuff for 90 minutes and get away with it sometimes, it depends on the ref.

 

Personally though I'd say it's pretty risky to drag someone back by the shirt when you're on a yellow card, and for that reason he only has himself to blame.

[benno2]

How anyone can say looking over at a player who is easily outpacing you, then running across them deliberately fully ten yards away from the ball isn't a booking is beyond me.

 

Neither foul was anything dangerous, but they were extremely cynical and typical of Italian defending. He'll do all that stuff for 90 minutes and get away with it sometimes, it depends on the ref.

 

Personally though I'd say it's pretty risky to drag someone back by the shirt when you're on a yellow card, and for that reason he only has himself to blame.

Is right. TV didn't show either of the bookings for what they really were. I was still more shocked that the ref showed the second yellow than I would have been had he not, but it was the risk Matterazzi took whilst on a yellow and this time he didn't get away with it. Even if he had, it would only have been a matter of time before Torres exposed him again and he would have been sent off more convincingly eventually.

[Knox_Harrington]

The best thing about Materazzi's sending off was that he did a variant on the praying hands all the way off the pitch.