Former Inter defender Daniele Adani feels that there is a strong sense of connection between Inter fans and Roma coach forged by the brief but intense period in which they were together at the club.

Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Adani gave his views on the former Nerazzurri coach ahead of his first meeting with his old club at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.

Mourinho made his return to Serie A this summer for the first time since departing from Inter in the summer of 2010.

The Portuguese tactician has managed the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur in the interim, but never crossed paths with the Nerazzurri.

Now for the first time, Mourinho hosts the club that he guided to an historic treble, and Adani predicts that the emotions will be strong.

“The bond between Jose and the Inter fans was so strong and intense for two reasons,” he explained, “the treble and the brevity of the relationship.”

“Reducing everything, however, to ‘he won the Champions League’ would be unfair,” he continued. “Mourinho, with his personal style, gave a voice to the Nerazzurri fans, thanks to his charisma and sense of rebellion.”

He explained that “He was in Milan for only two years and perhaps for this reason he entered and remained in the hearts of the fans in a way that cannot be forgotten.”

“But today will be special for Mou as well,” he added. “Even if he won’t show it, because he knows how to keep things going at work, he will be very excited inside himself: that experience at Inter touched him deeply undoubtedly.”

Of the Portuguese coach’s work at Roma, Adani stated that “Beyond victories and defeats, Mou had found the right path, on a tactical level, with the transition from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1, but between suspensions and injuries, against Inter it will be forced to get a result.”

“It will not be easy,” he went on. “I believe that Roma needs first of all stability to the project, which is complicated with injuries and fluctuating results.”

He moved to the Nerazzurri’s form, stating that “Inzaghi had immediately showed quality ideas with more variety than Conte, but they did not have the same solidity.”

“Now they have found it all too quickly and the challenge will be to keep it,” he went on. “The signs are positive: in the last few games De Vrij has been missing, but with three different central defenders they have always gotten results.”

Adani gave the view that “The key player in this sense is Brozovic who is absolutely pivotal to the team from a tactical point of view and is also makes those around him play better – it is no coincidence that he upped his level, and so did Calhanoglu as a result.”

“And to think that there were those who felt that the Croatian who couldn’t play with another deep and technical midfielder,” he added. “What were Modric in the national team and Eriksen in Inter last year?”

Back to the Giallorossi, Adani stated that they will attack “With the quick counters of Zaniolo, Mkhitaryan and Shomurodov, at the cost of allowing the opponents possession in some parts of the match, going between the pressing phases and those in which it is necessary to sit deeper.”

“The Giallorossi offensive players have more pace than the likes of Brozovic or Bastoni,” he added, “who struggle if caught at pace or if forced to run backwards.”

He highlighted, “In particular, Shomurodov must stretch the Nerazzurri defense and create the space between the defense and midfield, in the channels or behind Brozovic, where the attacking midfielders can receive the ball and turn.”

Adani believes that Inter’s depth of attacking options will “Not  allow the Giallorossi defense to be certain of anything.”

“Inter now has so many solutions in all areas of the pitch for building up, from the work of the two strikers, with particular recognition of the professionalism of Dzeko who is a complete center forward, to the runs of Barella,” he explained.

He continued by speaking of “The positions taken up by Calhanoglu, and Perisic’s raids down the left. How do you defend against a team that can hurt you in so many different ways?”