Cordoba: "Experience, awareness and dead balls: this is why Inter are the favourites"

Ivan Cordoba only made two appearances in the triumphant 2009-10 Champions League, but he was the vice-captain and one of the souls of the locker room. The right one to tell us how to best get to the 90 minutes that are worth a career.

Cordoba, what was the turning point 15 years ago?

"I remember at least three. The first in Kiev, in the group stage, when we already had our bags packed because it seemed like a cursed match, the ball didn't want to go in and only in the final minutes did Milito and Snejider find the goals that put us back in the running after Sheva's goal. That night a different awareness was born".

"Stamford Bridge, when we eliminated Chelsea in the round of 16 with a goal from Eto'o. A decisive turning point not only because we were coming off heavy disappointments in the knockout phase of previous years, but because Mou switched to a 4-2-3-1, convincing Pandev and Eto'o to play as wingers but also as full-backs if necessary. From there we never stopped."

"The semi-final against Barcelona. After eliminating such a strong team we gained the conviction that nothing could stop us. It wasn't presumption, but awareness of our strength."

Many of the protagonists of that feat actually say that you went to Madrid already convinced of winning. Why?

"Meanwhile, there was Mourinho, who was perfect in the psychological management of the approach to such an important event. If he saw that we were too charged up, he invented something to calm us down. If we had a moment of tension, he found a way to go to the clash, even with an accidental controversy, to reconnect. After all, he created these situations also on the outside".

Let's get to tonight's final. Unlike yours, this Inter team gets there after seeing the Coppa Italia and the Scudetto vanish at the most beautiful moment.

"But this time she will have a different awareness. In Istanbul, two years ago, she went there to play it at her best against an opponent who was stronger on paper but perhaps not with the full conviction of winning it. A lesson that will be very useful against PSG".

"Inter, because they are more experienced and this time they won't be satisfied with being the protagonist...".

But PSG is very strong.

"And it's a "team". More compact and balanced than Barcelona, ​​which always plays on the attack and when defending relies on individual plays. PSG is great in every department, everyone knows what to do even when not in possession. And then there's Luis Enrique, who also knows Italian football well".

If he could take a player away from PSG...

"Vitinha, makes everyone go round. He defends, sets up, attacks, he seems like a little ant with his fake slow pace that instead always brings him to the aid of his teammates".

Top left will be Kvara. It would take a Cordoba to stop him...

"Pavard will be there, he has the experience and skill to play from the 1st minute despite being out for a while with that ankle problem. To stop the Georgian, but also Doué or Barcola on the other flank, the mezzala and the quinto will need to double up. But the fundamental thing is that the wingers always receive the ball with their backs to the goal. If you prevent them from turning and catching you at speed, you're already halfway there".

What will be the key tonight?

"Don't concede goals, because with our midfield, the full-backs who know how to attack and the Thu-La, Inter have shown that they can score at any time. We will need obsessive attention to detail, starting with set pieces. A fundamental that could prove decisive".