Legendary former Inter defender Marco Materazzi has revealed that coach Jose Mourinho made him a promise that he would see time on the pitch in the 2010 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Speaking to the Sportweek addition to this week’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi explained the circumstances of his late substitute appearance in the Madrid final that sealed the treble.
Materazzi did not appear as much during the 2009-10 season as he had in past campaigns, as the partnership of Lucio and Walter Samuel had become the first-choice option at the back.
However, Materazzi remained a very important figure in the dressing room, as well as remaining a reliable performer on the pitch when called upon.
Mourinho decided the reward the defender for his importance to the team by making sure that he was able to play a role in the team’s triumph in the Champions League even if it was only off the bench.
Of his matchday kit from the final, he recalled that “On the pitch I had worn it for only a couple of minutes, but I knew that it would not remain ‘hidden’ under a suit – the Special One had already promised me that I’d get on the pitch during the second leg of the semi-final at the Camp Nou.”
“When I took off my jacket to come on for Milito, the shirt was already soaking wet,” he added, “due to the adrenaline I had warmed up like crazy, as if I had to play ninety minutes.”
