Mourinho faces a test of his credentials

José Mourinho is Inter Milan coach for one reason: because he came with the promise of European success.

Predecessor Roberto Mancini appeased disgruntled Nerazzurri tifosi by winning three scudetti on the bounce, with Inter having gone 17 long years without a title. But failure on the peninsula eventually ensured he was bouncing towards the exit door.

Inter’s last taste of European success was in 1998, a Uefa Cup victory over Lazio. Since then, they have toiled. And under Mancini, offered no solutions to the long-running famine. They have been knocked out by Villarreal, Valencia and Liverpool over the last three years after unconvincing performances where the team played well below their potential.

Mancini knew the game was up after Inter’s exit to Liverpool in March, commenting: “The next two and a half months will be my last as the coach of the squad. I have already told the players and it is only natural now to announce it to everybody. It’s a decision that I had already made and it is not due to tonight’s defeat.”

It was, instead, a decision made because of consecutive failures abroad while Inter dominated at home. The fanfare of winning the scudetto soon wore off and when Mancini could not take his team any further, his departure was inevitable.

Mourinho’s Champions League record meant, on paper, that he was the ideal solution. Success with Porto in 2003 and 2004 in both continental competitions made his reputation. And although there was no such repeat at Chelsea, he nevertheless led them into two semi-finals and thus surpassed anything Inter were managing during the same period.

His start at Inter, however, has not been as perfect as imagined. They are again dominating the league, already six points ahead of the rest with just 16 matches played. But in Europe, once more, the squad are struggling to match their potential and Mourinho is scratching his head.

He blamed a lack of motivation in the group stages, as Inter came up against minnows such as Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta. His side were inconsistent, winning just two of their six matches and finishing an embarrassing second, behind Panathinaikos, the perennial underachievers from Greece.

The Champions League draw is completed next to the trophy Inter so desperately want

The Champions League lingers as an unsolvable riddle.

Inter’s representative at the Champions League draw stated he was delighted that Inter had drawn Manchester United. He proffered that playing a big club will be a huge motivation for the squad, something later echoed by Mourinho.

There can be no lack of effort and certainly no excuses for a poor performance against the current European champions.

Even so, it might not be enough.

Mourinho has to bank on his players being ready and willing. That is the minimum requirement before facing Manchester United.

Then, he, and his squad, must believe that they can rid of their continental apprehension and perform at a level that will ensure victory and qualification for the last eight. With players like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ricardo Quaresma, there is the creativity to match United. Julio Cruz offers a lethal strike up front and midfielder general Esteban Cambiasso is the consummate defensive midfielder.

It will be Inter’s defence, though, that holds the key. Thus far, it has been their forte, conceding just ten times in Serie A. And with the second leg at Old Trafford, it might prove critical as to deciding whether Inter will progress; whether they can defend any lead gained from the San Siro first leg.

Mourinho won’t lose his job if Inter don’t do theirs, but if once again they exit with barely a whimper, questions will be raised as to whether the Portuguese is the right man to end a bothersome and frustrating period of European obscurity.