The Special one is off to a bad start in Italy

This week, the annual Trofeo TIM pitted the top three clubs in Italy against one another, and Jose Mourinho was given his first run out in front of the Italian big boys. Unfortunately, Inter lost to eventual trophy winners Milan 4-3 on penalties after a deadlocked ninety minutes (that’s ninety special Italian 30-second minutes. See comment below, Ed.), and they put in a disappointing performance in a 1-0 loss to Juventus.

Jose’s excuse for the sub par performance was the Nerazzurri’s over-crowded treatment table - in Tuesday’s loss to Juve Marco Materazzi joined Cristian Chivu, Ivan Cordoba and Walter Samuel on the sidelines - and he has brushed off the friendly tournament as a trifling matter:

“Fortunately, we could afford to lose the two friendly games we played. The important games will start in one month and we will have to be ready by then.”

According to Sport, Inter fans let him know the ‘robotic’ performance was not good enough, while the Italian media have also been disappointed with his efforts, arguing that it is less forgivable to lose a friendly to the likes of Juventus than Serie B minnows Salernitana.

Mourinho’s laughed off the pre-season thus far, nonchalantly claiming Inter should simply sign another defender. The Italian press, however, claim that the Portuguese manager will learn that Internazionale is no place for jokes. Ooh, how ominous…