SPORTS – AHEAD OF THE GAME 29

theSun ON MONDAY | OCTOBER 18, 2010

Less noise, more football

> Benitez’s plan to Muntari. His opposite number,
outdo Mourinho Claudio Ranieri, went for the
win by throwing on

H
OW DOES that old Four Montenegro forward Mirko
Tops record go again? Vucinic, who grabbed the
“It’s the same old song, winner in injury time.
but with a different feeling Inter recovered well from
since you’ve been gone.” that setback and the superb
Six games into a new form of Eto’o has had a lot to do
season, Rafa Benitez is trying with that – something Benitez
to get his Internazionale side can take full credit for. Last
to dance to a new tune – one season Eto’o sacrificed himself
that won’t remind everyone of out wide to allow Milito to play
Jose Mourinho. Indeed, the centre-forward. He ended up
former Liverpool manager’s playing at fullback in the
biggest headache is the Treble- Champions’ League semifinal
winning manager he replaced against Barcelona after Inter
two months ago. went down to 10 men. Now he
“I know comparisons (with is back where he believes he
Mourinho) are inevitable but I should be, and 11 goals in 10
believe I can make games in all competitions has
improvements in terms of the repaid Benitez’s faith.
way we play,” Benitez said at The goals will need to keep
the start of the season. “I want coming. Eto’o has taken the
to build something concrete place of a man whose two goals
and leave a solid base for the to earn Inter their first
future.” Champions’ League in 45 years Jose Mourinho (left) and and current
Hitting on two of elevated him to god-like status Inter manager Rafa Benitez (right)
Mourinho’s weak points was a among fans. He has returned holding on to his prized asset Samuel
clever way of strengthening from the World Cup looking Eto’o.
his position. It was not always jaded and has been slowed
pretty last season while Inter down by niggling injuries but
were making history and the he will soon want his old job
legacy, despite the outgoing back.
coach’s theory that he always Milito’s agent has already
leaves a lasting one, is heavy sought to clarify his player’s
on veterans who have nothing position amid speculation that
Draw No: 14/10 Draw Date: 17/10/2010 Draw Venue: Perak Turf Club
left to win. he could leave in January. If he
JACKPOT PRIZE
0 5856007
Benitez is promising to win does, it will be Benitez’s JACKPOT PRIZE NOT WON
just as much but with better decision alone. It was different RM16,000,000 RM 500,000 to be accumulated.
football and a team that will with Mario Balotelli; Benitez
last long into the future. It is did not want to be the man RM 1,000,000 to be paid as 10 Special.
hard to argue that he had done responsible for selling Balotelli
either at Anfield but something just in case he was an instant 1ST PRIZE (RM 3,000,000) 5856007 Jackpot Prizes of RM 100,000 each.
had to be said as he sat in the success at Manchester City.
Special One’s chair for the first The buck was neatly passed to 2ND PRIZE (RM 1,000,000) 1213867 1363015 5623994
time. the board courtesy of an offer
3RD PRIZE (RM 100,000) 7230683 1390779 6728436
The jury remains out on too good to turn down.
whether he is succeeding. Eto’o’s defensive work must 4TH PRIZE (RM 50,000) 4658299 2250471 7010052
Tottenham’s go-for-it be replaced. Last season his
2822602 7403529
approach will be a test for tracking back eased the 5TH PRIZE (RM 20,000) 3976794
the Spaniard who, as hard workload on an ageing 2875873 7534153
as he tries, can’t help defence and leftback 6TH PRIZE (RM 10,000) 1643097
erring on the side of Cristian Chivu is
caution. already missing 10 STARTER PRIZES (RM 3,000 EACH)
Trying to find
the middle
him, overheard
shouting “If (the
1198352 2547410 2603845 2716052 3460206
ground between forwards) won’t 3785433 5323715 6989149 6993757 7474034
conceding that run, I’m leaving” 45 SPECIAL PRIZES (RM 2,000 EACH)
project Mourinho against Roma.
is best left For now, 1402596 1622425 1789988 1875277 1943720 2022960 2160864
untouched, and Eto’o’s form is one 2351139 2514204 2575878 2789962 3011548 3078171 3195831
taking a over on Mourinho. 3848637 3922223 3966583 4248056 4659233 4870044 4923608
sledgehammer to the Wasn’t it sacrilege to 4951466 4977433 4985895 5042755 5528425 5595148 5626797
most successful side in leave such a great strikers 5697248 5877474 6327057 6510783 6531137 6588633 6589948
Inter’s history, he wants an toiling on the touchline? “I 6690268 6859384 6987932 7008025 7093314 7209583 7315638
Inter team that will have want him playing further up 7346739 7474340 7500956
greater possession of the ball. the pitch with less ground to 90 CONSOLATION PRIZES (RM 1,000 EACH)
The statistics from the cover defensively,” Benitez
Champions’ League semifinal says. 1263094 1275940 1340003 1409717 1667955 1739051 1807239
second leg against Barcelona Well aware that Mourinho 1821541 1833962 1971041 1981122 2020411 2027483 2055851
last season were an upset so many of his 2087548 2201502 2377357 2576949 2599474 2646427 2691411
astonishing 24%, 76 % split in managerial rivals last season, 2695509 2772642 2778605 2861508 2892881 2904514 3072522
the defeated team’s favour. Benitez has also said: “My 3293869 3305514 3352488 3405846 3408936 3517351 3636197
Things were not that different approach is one of dialogue and 3658774 3707235 3732540 3790253 3970181 4041932 4215910
in the final when, without the respect, above all for the other
4391485 4399662 4425554 4491820 4504733 4508795 4652892
excuse of having a man less, coaches.”
4777792 4796101 4820634 4856480 4909308 4947492 4987117
Inter still allowed Bayern He tells a story of how he
5066055 5376446 5381293 5413527 5503530 5543877 5661742
Munich a 60-40 share of the developed as a coach. “When I
ball. was in the Real Madrid C team 5691167 5830268 6032188 6136728 6221387 6272223 6284806
Benitez has never been too as a central midfielder,” he 6302453 6319010 6357882 6361137 6388608 6504408 6649899
concerned with possession recalls, “I always had a lot to 6819340 6834351 7120242 7201965 7222851 7257008 7278311
percentages, and has never say on the pitch. My father 7601588 7696100 7877271 7896884 7907839 7977392
looked like wavering from a 4- used to say ‘speak less and
18 prizes of RM 500 each for last 6 digits
2-3-1 formation that made his score more goals’.” DRAW NO: 15/10 DRAW DATE: 07/11/10
Liverpool strong, before That just about sums up 856007 213867 230683
making them predictable. Yet
he has promised to play a more
how he intends to outdo
Mourinho – less noise, more
189 prizes of RM 200 each for last 5 digits FIRST PRIZE : RM 3,000,000
attacking 4-3-3 at times this football. Tottenham on 56007 13867 30683
season and suggested that Wednesday will be a big test 1,890 prizes of RM 100 each for last 4 digits JACKPOT : RM 16,500,000
Cambiasso could be shifted but, with Eto’o’s goals, a
6007 3867 0683
forward and allowed to dictate
the play more.
Wembley date next May is the
long-term target. 6,300 prizes of RM 50 each for last 3 digits
WIN UP TO : RM 19,500,000
But old habits die hard and Another European Cup in
007
in Inter’s first league defeat of his first season at a new club:
the season away to Roma he that is something Mourinho
took off Milito to send on cannot match. – The
midfield grafter Sulley Independent