From the perspective of Italy manager Roberto Mancini, these are bittersweet days. The patriot in him enjoys the talk of an improbable Grand Slam, a scenario where, by June, the Italian flag is draped over every significant Uefa trophy.
At the same time, Mancini would like the triple target, very much alive, of Italian clubs making the finals of the Champions League, the Europa League and their infant sibling, the Conference League, to feel … well, to feel a bit more Italian.
The club Mancini long ago guided to the first of the league titles of his managerial career, Inter Milan, can on Wednesday guarantee an Italian presence in the most prestigious of those finals.
Should Inter hold on to the lead – 2-0 – they efficiently took away from Lisbon in the first leg of their quarter-final against Benfica, they will meet a fellow Serie A club next.