If there were any lingering doubts over why Jose Mourinho feels he needs to get under everyoneâÂÂs skin, then the press conference ahead of this weekendâÂÂs season opener nailed his modus operandi.
âÂÂI have heard my enemies sounding off recently and this pleases me,â he informed a hushed press room at InterâÂÂs training camp before leaving the statement hanging in the air.
In Jose's George Bush-like world it is a case of âÂÂyou are either with us or against us,â and seemingly there are âÂÂenemiesâ at every turn.
Ciro Ferrara â for you will become an enemy because you coach the enemy â Marcelo Lippi, Luciano Spalletti and all the rest, you have been warned.
New campaign, same old Jose thenâ¦
The champions were as sullen as the late-summer weather when they stepped out to face newly-promoted Bari at the San Siro on Sunday evening.
It took the big, bad boss man all of 25 minutes to make his first change when he withdrew Sulley Muntari, later explaining that the poor fellow had been so ineffectual because he had been fulfilling his religious obligations by fasting during the Muslim month of Ramadan.
In fact, it was only the combination of the free-falling Diego Milito, who feeling the merest breath of a defender on his neck tumbled to the ground like the first leaf of Autumn, and the incompetence of the referee for awarding the penalty, that gave Inter the lead.
The away side were too shocked to argue and Samuel Eto'o too embarrassed to celebrate after dispatching the spot-kick for his first goal in Italy.
Maybe that's why he went on to put a free effort in front of goal wide, but welcome to Serie A Sammy. There are sure to be a few more gifts on offer whenever your side are at home.
However, there is some justice in this mean old world and Vitali Kutuzov - who started his career across town at AC Milan - fired home the equaliser after Lucio and Marco Materazzi had lumbered up-field.
In fact, the visitors should have won it at the death, and the only noise at the final whistle were the pounding of feet of the Nerazzurri faithful as they quickly disappeared into the fading light while the rest of Italy chuckled heartily.
Leading those guffaws were Juventus and Milan, who overcame tricky openers to get their seasons off to winning starts.
Solid rather than spectacular was the order of the day, which is not a surprise as the opposition was Chievo and Siena respectively, two sides not noted for open football.
Diego certainly looked the real deal, but it would be unfair to jump to the conclusion that the Brazilian will be the 'New Zidane' as has been suggested in some pro-Juve quarters.
One thing is certain though, Amauri will be flicking his tangled mop in anticipation of the service from his compatriot if he can get on the end of the sort of free-kick that Vincenzo Iaquinta headed home for the only goal of the game.
And what about Milan's Thiago? From persona non grata last season to the man set to keep the midfield ticking over in an unruffled manner.
Maybe Ronaldinho will be another fallen star set for a renaissance â well he certainly will be if the opposition decide not to mark him.
Siena gave the former golden boy of world football all the room he could ever have dreamt of to weave a bit of the old magic.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
