Inter coach Rafael Benitez has received rare praise from club president Massimo Moratti after guiding the struggling Italian champions into the Club World Cup final.

Moratti, speaking yesterday after Inter’s 3-0 win over South Koreans Seongnam Ilhwa, said: “Benitez has displayed self-sacrifice and great professionalism.

“He has taken a very difficult situation in hand. He has worked really well, with lots of responsibility and experience because Wednesday’s match was a very delicate affair.”

The semi-final success came as a welcome fillip for former Liverpool boss Benitez who has endured a difficult first season in charge of Inter, lying only seventh in Serie A, 13 points off city rivals Milan.

Moratti now wants Inter to go on and win tomorrow’s final against African champions Tout Puissant Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We have to win the title, the Congolese have shown their enthusiasm and have proved to be a very effective and dangerous side.”

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