On this day in 2010, Jose Mourinho returned to haunt his former side Chelsea in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
Mourinho had taken over at San Siro in the summer of 2008 following his dismissal from Chelsea during the 2007-08 season.
In his first season, 2008-09, he secured the Scudetto but the Nerazzurri exited the Champions League limply after being brushed aside by Manchester United in the Round of 16.
On this day in 2010, Jose Mourinho returned to haunt his former side Chelsea in the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
Mourinho had taken over at San Siro in the summer of 2008 following his dismissal from Chelsea during the 2007-08 season.
In his first season, 2008-09, he secured the Scudetto but the Nerazzurri exited the Champions League limply after being brushed aside by Manchester United in the Round of 16.
The following season Inter looked a different proposition after signing an array of quality players in the shape of Lucio, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o, Thiago Motta and Diego Milito.
Inter just about made it out of the group phase in the 2009-10 season. They initially struggled and finished second in a group containing Barcelona, winning only twice.
They were pitted against Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea in the Round of 16, with the first leg at San Siro.
The Italian side emerged victorious in the first encounter thanks to a wonder strike from Esteban Cambiasso.
However the English side did hold an away goal, which made the second leg at Stamford Bridge a little trickier.
It was Mourinho’s second time back in England following his sacking, and, more importantly, his first return to the place where he was hailed as a king – Stamford Bridge.
What ensued was a nervy game, with both sides eager not to give much away.
Inter did formulate the better chances throughout the game, with Diego Milito especially guilty of spurning some glorious chances.
Inter stopper Julio Cesar was tested sporadically, whilst some last-ditch tackling from the likes of Lucio and Maicon kept the home side at bay.
However the best player on the pitch was Inter’s No 10, Sneijder, who was having the greatest season of his career.
The Dutchman was continually dropping into pockets of space in between the Chelsea defence and midfield, causing havoc. Only the wastefulness of Milito ensured the game stayed at 0-0.
However, with 12 minutes on the clock, Inter finally got the breakthrough.
Sneijder was again at the heart of it, spinning to his left and floating a delicate through ball over the heads of the Chelsea defence for Eto'o, whose first touch was superb.
Eto’o pushed the ball several yards ahead, giving the Cameroonian enough time to beat Branislav Ivanovic for pace, and rifled a low shot past Petr Cech into the net.
The goal was enough to secure a 3-1 aggregate win, and passage through to the quarter final, where they met CSKA Moscow.
And we know how the season would end…