Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Matt Leigh
Guest(s)
Release Date
8 June 2023
Duration
77 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney continue their double header with football fan Matt Leigh by turning the spotlight on Inter Milan 2009–2010 — the season when José Mourinho achieved the holy grail of European football: a historic treble.
Mourinho’s Inter were not built for beauty, but for brilliance. The episode explores how the Portuguese tactician forged a side of relentless discipline, tactical precision, and psychological control. They dismantled opponents across three fronts — winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Champions League — all within a single campaign.
At the heart of the story are the players who embodied Mourinho’s philosophy: Javier Zanetti’s leadership, Wesley Sneijder’s creativity, Diego Milito’s clinical finishing, and Samuel Eto’o’s selfless adaptability. Together, they formed a unit greater than the sum of its parts.
The conversation revisits iconic moments — from the 3–1 semi-final win over Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona to the rain-soaked night in Madrid where Milito’s double secured glory against Bayern Munich. The hosts also examine Mourinho’s mind games, the siege mentality that unified the squad, and the cultural legacy of a team that ended Italy’s long wait for European dominance.
This was more than just a treble; it was the perfect expression of Mourinho’s footballing ideology — organisation, sacrifice, and supreme confidence. Inter 2009–10 didn’t just win — they imposed their will on football itself.
Takeaways
Inter’s treble was the culmination of tactical perfection and mental fortitude.
Mourinho’s leadership created unity through adversity.
The semi-final vs Barcelona remains one of football’s greatest defensive displays.
Diego Milito’s finishing defined the season’s most crucial moments.
Inter 2009–10 were a tactical and emotional masterpiece — the end of an era in Italian dominance.
Inter Milan 2009–10: Mourinho’s Treble Masters
Few seasons in football history have been as complete — or as commanding — as Inter Milan’s 2009–10 campaign under José Mourinho. It was the year of the treble: Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Champions League, won with a mix of discipline, emotion, and brilliance that defined Mourinho’s managerial philosophy.
Built on the foundations of defensive resilience and mental steel, this was a team of warriors and tacticians. Javier Zanetti’s leadership anchored a squad that blended experience with purpose. Wesley Sneijder orchestrated play from midfield, Diego Milito supplied the goals, and Samuel Eto’o sacrificed personal glory to track back and press. Together, they formed a machine — clinical, compact, and utterly unbreakable.
Inter’s European run was the stuff of legend. They outmanoeuvred Chelsea, outlasted CSKA Moscow, and outclassed Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in a semi-final that redefined defensive perfection. In the final, Milito’s two goals against Bayern Munich sealed immortality, as Mourinho wept on the touchline of the Bernabéu — a fitting stage for his farewell.
Beyond tactics, Inter’s triumph was psychological. Mourinho’s “us against the world” mentality unified players and fans alike, transforming pressure into fuel. Every victory carried weight, every setback became motivation. The treble was not just a collection of trophies — it was the embodiment of collective willpower.
This episode of By Far The Greatest Team, paired with Manchester City 2011–12, examines two very different pathways to greatness. For Inter Milan, it was a symphony of structure, spirit, and supreme belief — the last time an Italian club ruled Europe with such authority.
Inter 2009–10 were not just winners. They were architects of perfection, the team that conquered everything.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Mourinho’s tactical blueprint for total control
The road to the treble: Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League triumphs
The semi-final vs Barcelona — a defensive masterclass
Key figures: Zanetti, Sneijder, Milito, Eto’o, Cambiasso, Maicon
The psychological power of Mourinho’s leadership
Inter’s legacy as the last great Italian team to rule Europe
Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona (3–2 aggregate)
Milito’s two goals in the Champions League final vs Bayern Munich
Mourinho’s tears and farewell on the Bernabéu pitch
Serie A title sealed with trademark ruthlessness
Eto’o’s defensive shift against Barcelona symbolising team sacrifice
Notable Manager
Notable Players
Javier Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, Samuel Eto’o, Esteban Cambiasso, Maicon, Lucio, Walter Samuel, Dejan Stanković, Julio César, Goran Pandev
Style of Play
4-2-3-1 formation, defensive organisation, counter-attacking precision, tactical discipline, structured transitions, psychological control
Inter 2009–10 were the embodiment of José Mourinho’s philosophy: tactical clarity, defensive mastery, and emotional intelligence. Built around a 4-2-3-1 formation, they thrived on compactness and transition efficiency, designed to control space rather than possession.
In defence, Lucio and Walter Samuel anchored a resilient back line, supported by Maicon’s marauding runs and Zanetti’s versatility. The double pivot of Cambiasso and Motta provided the balance — shielding the defence while launching quick counter-attacks. Ahead of them, Sneijder acted as the creative fulcrum, threading precise passes to Milito and Eto’o, who interchanged fluidly across the front line.
Mourinho’s system relied on absolute trust and discipline. Every player understood their role within the structure — pressing when needed, dropping deep when required, and countering with ruthless precision. Matches like the semi-final at Camp Nou exemplified their art: down to ten men, Inter defended heroically for an hour, blocking, intercepting, and frustrating one of the greatest attacking sides ever assembled.
While critics dismissed their style as pragmatic, Inter’s football was both cerebral and courageous. They mastered the psychological rhythm of matches — knowing when to suffocate opponents and when to strike. Their treble triumph was not a coincidence; it was the inevitable result of Mourinho’s meticulous orchestration of willpower and structure.
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