SOCCER SERIE A:THE LITTLE boy was beside himself with delight. It was around midnight outside the press room at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and he had just got the autograph of Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho, no less. As things go, this is going to be hottest autograph of the Italian football year.
Two hours earlier, Mourinho's Inter had just sent a clear signal to their rivals, in Italy and abroad, with an emphatic 4-0 away win over AS Roma that took them to the top of the Serie A table. Cypriot side Anorthosis, who meet Inter at the San Siro in Milan tomorrow night, have been warned.
Likewise Roma, who travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow night, could be in for another torrid evening too, but that is another story.
The Italian championship is young, with only seven games played, but there is a feeling the reigning champions may find themselves in a one-horse race. After all, on Sunday night they destroyed the one team that, in the post-Calciopoli era, has been able to give them a run for their money.
What is more, for long periods, especially in the first half, Roma did not play too badly.
As for the other title pretenders, things do not look too good - Juventus, who picked up their second consecutive defeat when going down 2-1 to Napoli in Naples on Saturday night, still look like a work in progress. AC Milan, despite beating Sampdoria 3-0 at home on Sunday, are five points behind Inter, whilst it is hard to resist the impression a side that relies heavily on golden oldies like Ronaldo, Shevchenko, Maldini et al will not run out of petrol.
We are left with a very unusual looking Serie A table in which the four teams behind Inter are Udinese, Catania, Napoli and Lazio, in that order. Is the "Special One" about to sweep all before him?
The answer to that will come from the Champions League because, as has been pointed out many times, Mourinho has been summoned to the Inter court not to win the Serie A title (Inter have won that for the last three years) but to win the Champions League.
Talking after Sunday night's game, Mourinho did his best to contain himself, even if one suspected he wanted to summersault in the manner of his Nigerian striker, Victor Obinna, scorer of a stunning fourth goal.
Since his arrival in Italy, the "Special One" has been careful not too appear arrogant. He has worked hard at learning Italian, which he already speaks more than adequately. He makes himself available to the media.
Mourinho being Mourinho, he, of course, still creates news. At his first Italian press conference he scored a brilliant home town goal when using the Milanese word "pirla" (fool) in answer to a question. Later, he was quick to reply to Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri, pointing out his predecessor at Chelsea had won very little.
Having just wiped the floor with Roma, Mourinho was careful not to rub salt into Roman wounds on Sunday night. However, he could not resist pointing out he was just as good, and as bad, a coach as the guy who last month lost the Milan derby 1-0.
Roma were still a very good team, he insisted, adding without too much false modesty that his move of pushing Sully Muntari and Dejan Stankovic up tight on Alberto Aquilani and Daniele De Rossi in midfield was one of the tactical keys to Inter's success.
Certainly, the Mourinho-style Inter is looking good. Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in excellent form up front, Argentine Julio Cruz, Brazilian Adriano and Nigerian Obinna all have a point to prove alongside him, Argentine Esteban Cambiasso continues to look like one of the most effective central midfielders in Europe, whilst experienced compatriot Javier Zanetti remains a more than accomplished captain and utility player.
As we said, however, the moment of truth for Mourinho comes in the Champions League, later in the season.
As for now, spare a thought for little Anorthosis at the San Siro tomorrow night.
