Mariga hopes to make history in UEFA glory

By JAMES WAINDI

When MacDonald Mariga talks about playing for Italian champions Inter Milan, every word he speaks is laced with pride and honour.

"I knew from the moment I joined Inter Milan in February that it was a great team and I remember telling you that we will beat Chelsea in the second round and go all the way to win the title for the first time in 38 years and it is now only one step ahead.

"I am very happy that we have qualified for the finals in Madrid on May 22, but we are holding our celebrations for the main title," said Mariga just before he went for a light training in Milan Thursday, after a one and a half hour flight from Barcelona.

Thiago Motta’s sending-off left Inter short-handed for over an hour, but the Italians held on despite constant pressure from hosts Barcelona and a late Gerard Pique goal to book a first final in 38 years.

The 3-2 Inter Milan’s aggregate win over the reigning European champions earned them a Champions League final meeting against Bayern Munich after a pulsating semi-final second leg which saw Mariga thrown into action in the 85th minute to replace former Africa player of the year Samuel Eto’o.

"We have a great team with great players and I can’t see Bayern Munich stopping us on May 22. I know the Germans are also a good side and very experienced but we are prepared for them.

"I’m enjoying the best form of my life and I’m prepared for an explosive end of the season," Mariga told FeverPitch on phone from his base in Milan.

The international midfielder who became the first Kenyan player to play in the Champions League in March after coming in against Chelsea is optimistic the Nerazzuri would bag a treble this season by winning the Champions League, Italian Cup and the Serie A.

"This would be a dream season for me if we win a treble. We are on course of making it real and I don’t see anyone stopping us. Everyone’s commitment is high and we mean business, this is why we cut our celebrations to resume training immediately for Sunday’s away clash with Lazio," said Mariga.

Protecting a first-leg 3-1 lead, Inter were forced to play more than an hour a man short after Thiago Motta saw red for a hand-off on Sergio Busquets.

Frantic finale

But Barca failed to fire before Pique’s shot set up a frantic finale.

Bojan Krkic then saw an injury-time strike ruled out, but Inter held on for a first

European Cup final since 1972. The Italian giants will now face Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu on May 22 as Mourinho attempts to lead them to European football’s top prize for the first time in more than 40 years.

Barcelona’s efforts to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy, meanwhile, ended in frustration in the face of a sensationally stoic defensive show from the Italians.

Mourinho’s reaction at the final whistle said it all as he sprinted around the Nou Camp pitch with his hands aloft, a pointed salute to the Barca supporters and media critics who had labelled him "The Translator" in mocking tribute to his time at the club in the 1990s.