Iconic Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar has praised now Roma coach José Mourinho for his presence of mind to advise him to play with a bright yellow shirt. The shot-stopper was an integral part of the Special One’s two-season stint as the Nerazzurri boss, helping the club secure the first Italian treble in history in 2009/10.
Speaking at the ‘Champions Under the Stars’ event held in Biella, the Brazilian keeper shed light on a curious episode between him and the Portuguese tactician regarding kit colors (via L’Interista).
“I rebelled against the coach, who claimed that a goalkeeper with a brightly-colored shirt can distract an opponent, he wanted me to play in the yellow, the training shirt, I didn’t. But in the end I did don such kit in a match in the Coppa Italia in Florence, and we won all of our games from then on until the end of the season.”
Inter beat Fiorentina in the semi-finals of the Italian Cup before going on to dispatch Roma in the finals, while also seeing off the Giallorossi by two points to win the Scudetto title. The UEFA Champions League came about to be icing on the treble cake, as they overcame German champions Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final at the Santiago Bernabeu.