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Inter and Bayern behind closed doors |
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Both Champions League finalists have finished their first day in Madrid; the Nerazzurri were "invisible" in Ciudad Real Madrid and the German outfit also remained in isolation to maintain their focus Moratti has also arrived to Madrid: "There are no news about Mourinho"
This is the Promised Land. Teams from all over Europe have been competing since September to get to the Madrid finals. The two squads that have made it there, Inter and Bayern, have spent their first day in the Spanish capital preparing for Saturday's main event but also trying to stay in a tight group and isolating themselves from the surrounding rumours that could particularly trouble the Nerazzurri—given that their coach, Mourinho, is the centre of recent rumours. Moratti's concise statement upon arrival in Madrid at 10:30 PM that "there were no news about Mourinho" can only be considered as a good sign by resolute optimists.
INTER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS — Inter did not create the toughest armoured barrier around their Madrid camp. The manager had planned to keep his team one more day in Milan, but they were concerned about the impact of the volcanic ash clouds. Therefore, Zanetti and friends woke up today at the Mirasierra Suites Hotel, where Real Madrid usually gather to prepare for their matches. They stayed in their hotel almost the entire day until their 5 PM practice session. The players, who are staying on the ninth floor, took the opportunity to go to the pool, and a couple of them went out for a walk. Toldo and Orlandoni were seen outside the lobby; Sneijder got behind the wheel of a black Volvo that was brought there by a friend of his. They all left by bus to Valdebebas, where their practice session took place. Ciudad Real Madrid, in the outskirts of the Spanish capital, was off-limits for everyone. The security guards didn't even allow TV cameras near the first set of gates. Mourinho was able to have the privacy he wanted and tomorrow's session will be open to the public. In the evening, they returned to the hotel, where they were greeted by a few dozen fans—mainly Italians who live in Madrid—had dinner and a lot of free time. In the last few days, Cambiasso had commented jokingly: "If we spend three days in Madrid, Eto'o will be able to tell us not only about both finals but also about his entire career."
BAYERN, AT NIGHT — Bayern arrived to Madrid in the morning and set up camp at the Eurostars Tower Hotel, inside one of the four skyscrappers that form the hotel. Robben held a press conference and the squad stayed at their hotel until 8:30 PM when they left for a practice session—also behind closed doors and also at Ciudad Real Madrid. Hoping to see them was a Spanish-German family (father, mother, son and daughter) donning Bayern outfits from head to toe. However, they were unable to soften the security guards. From tomorrow, the number of fans of both teams will increase and with them will come the tensions.
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