Jose Mourinho starts his Inter Milan career knowing that fans expect him to do more than just extend the club's streak of three straight Serie A championships.
After all, those three titles weren't enough to save his predecessor Roberto Mancini's job last season, after a disappointing exit against Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals.
So for Mourinho's first year to be a success, both the fans and owner Massimo Moratti want the Portuguese manager to deliver Inter's first European Cup title since 1965.
"I don't know our rivals sufficiently to say what are chances are, but the Champions League is a rather difficult competition," Moratti said. "Mourinho is an expert and the players have gained experience. This could be our year."
Inter enters the Serie A season this weekend as the favorite for a fourth title, and seized an early psychological edge over last year's runner-up AS Roma by winning the Italian Super Cup on penalties on Sunday.
Mourinho seemed confident that will not be the last title he delivers to the club.
"When this team has had time to work together we will win games 2-0 and 3-0 not 1-0," Mourinho said. "I have only worked with the team for one month so we will get much better."
Moratti, however, has been trying to downplay expectations by heaping praise on main rivals AC Milan, Juventus and Roma.
"Roma is very strong and has experience and you need to put them at the top of the list (of contenders) because they also have an excellent coach," Moratti said. "Milan, despite the poor preseason results, has tradition on its side and the return of Ronaldinho should be kept in consideration. Juventus always has character and Fiorentina could be the outsider."
Mourinho has tried to shore up Inter's midfield during the offseason, but failed in his quest to pry Frank Lampard from his former club Chelsea. Instead, he settled for Brazilian midfielder Amantino Mancini, who transferred from Roma, and Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari.
Adriano is back in attack, and seems to have used his six-month loan period in Brazil to get back in shape and find his old goal-scoring form. However, he will miss the first games with an injury he picked up during the preseason and is expected back in mid-September.
Just like last year, most of Inter's hopes rest on the shoulders of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who had 17 goals last year despite struggling with knee problems, including both goals in the last game of the season to clinch the title.
Ibrahimovic battled a sore knee for much of the second half of the season and his sporadic appearances in the final two months almost cost Inter the championship. The injury also plagued him at the European Championship, but Inter says tall striker has fully recovered, and he looked sharp in playing the entire match against Roma.
The core of the defense remains unchanged from last year with Javier Zanetti, Cristian Chivu, Marco Materazzi and Ivan Cordoba, who missed the last three months of the season with an injury. Julio Cesar will start in goal, backed up by Francesco Toldo.
"Mourinho is the man to beat," Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri said. "Inter is to be feared."
