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TOMORROW THE WORLD IS AT STAKE

"We have to pretend that we are in front of Barcelona.  First I was rooting for Mazembe, now they are a team just like any other.  I'm playing on the left? For tonight, I would even play as a goalkeeper..."

EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD OF ETO'O

"I hope to play a perfect final to beat an African team..."

The man which was decisive in many games tells all about they key matches: "It's like being in the ocean without a boat, I had to give my all to get to shore.  In 2009, Guardiola showed us 'Gladiator' and last year I told the guys: 'We haven't played this final so let's win.'  I will score for Moratti but I am here to take the cup."

Abu Dhabi - Again in the final ten years later.  And again after ten years, it will be against his African brothers.  In his heart, on the world scale, Samuel Eto'o could not have asked for anything better to write the destiny (his) of football history.  He is one of the decisive men for Inter.  And it is much more than just scoring goals for him.  Since 2000, from Lagos to Abu Dhabi, from Nigeria to Congo's Mazembe: his two finals, his continent.  And the story that mixes the feel of today to remember the book "The feet in Italy, the heart in Africa."

Eto'o, would you like to relive the evening of your first final, Cameroon-Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations where you played and won in 2000?

"When I go on the field I never think of the matches that already played.  These matches are always different from others.  Certainly I would not want to relive the night before of that final where the Nigerian fans did not let us sleep through the night.  They wanted us to know that it is impossible to win in Lagos but in football you never know what the result will be."

And what did you learned from Mazembe against Internacional?

"They had everything: will, heart, faith for 90 minutes.  They played a great game defensively and the goals were beautiful, not random."

For Inter which opponent is easier, the Brazilians or the Africans?

"The point is that every opponent deserves respect.  We have to pretend, going back a few months, that we will be facing Barcelona."

What was it like the night at Camp Nou?

"Zanetti kept encourage us and kept tell me: 'Come on, it is almost over' and he began at the 38th minute in the first half.  Against Mazembe, Inter have to be the same because they also play good football and want to win like us and for them, this is a final that perhaps they will never play again.  Indeed, this is their first Club World Cup final and they are playing for entire continent and the entire continent is cheering for them.  In Africa, that is how it works."

For this reason, can we say that 2010 is the year of Africa?

"Almost.  My dream was to see one of the teams in the final at the World Cup in South Africa but Ghana was close."

So is tonight's game a final of your dream?

"The ultimate dream is to win.  Being able to play against Mazembe is a part of that dream and I have never had the experience: a final against an African team.  I arrived in Abu Dhabi and said that I would root for Mazembe against Internacional.  But for me tonight, Mazembe will be like any other opponent."

How does it feel to be in the final?

"It is like in the midst of an ocean without a boat, and somehow you get to shore.  When you are in a difficult situation you need to use your 'save your life' power."

Coming from someone who admits to not knowing how to swim is not bad.  But how will you play this final?

"Before I will drink a lot, eat well and sleep as much as possible, although I can not do much.  It is a game that makes you very anxious.  You want to play a perfect final so you won't regret: what I could have done differently and things like that.  As if this were the last game of my life, this one here."

Let's move on to Paris in 2006, Barcelona-Arsenal, you gave a speech to your teammates?

"I was convinced so before the game I didn't speak, we just started to play.  But we weren't play well that day.  I saw the sad face of Ronaldinho and there was something wrong.  I spoke from my heart: 'We are the best team in the world, we can not forget what we have done all season.'  After that, the rest was a different Barcelona."

More or less of that in Rome 2009...

"We returned to the dressing room after warming up.  We took about 5 minutes to watch a few great scenes from 'Gladiator'.  Words weren't needed.  We just wanted to play like the best.  And that that was not a game but a territory to conquer."

Madrid, May 22, before the final against Bayern, you once again spoke to your teammates.

"I only said one thing: 'You don't play finals, you win them.'"

The exact same thing was said yesterday by Moratti did you know?

"Maybe he read my book but that was not to influence him."

In your book you also said that you feel that you are in debt with Moratti: a goal tonight may be needed to even the score?

"Only if we win.  In China, against Lazio (Italian Super Cup 2009), I scored but we didn't win.  That is not how you repay your debt."

Ibrahimovic came and went.  He had just arrived in Barcelona, kissed the shirt like it was his and now he is gone.

"Everyone can do what they want.  I believe you don't need to kiss the shirt in front of everyone to show that you love the team.  Kissing a shirt means that you run and give everything that you have."

Mourinho before facing Chelsea said: "Samuel, if you play on the left, we will win the Champions League."  What has Benitez told you to win the Club World Cup?

"More or less the same thing.  He's asked me to make a difference and to score more and he thinks I can do it from there.  And from there I make the team play in a different way and also the team can have more chances.  It is not my natural position but the Stankovic's goal the other night proves that he's right.  Provided there is a balance for all, that Benitez knows what they want in me and I will be there."

Is that balance really possible?

"On the left I can play, provided that I can get to the goal with the oxygen I need. Anyway, these talks don't count for tonight.  I can play as as striker, a full-back, and if Julio Cesar would give me his gloves I would be the goalkeeper..."

Tonight, your feet will be in Abu Dhabi and your heart?

"Here in Abu Dhabi: feet, head, heart are all here."

Maybe in Douala, the bar where you meet your people when you returned to Cameroon?

"Tonight, they will be rooting for me for sure.  Hoping to see a perfect match since it is me against an African team and a Eto'o victory.  God wants it that way."

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport