Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is ready to axe coach Jose Mourinho should the Nerazzurri fail to progress beyond the UEFA Champions League group stages next month.

As we at ExtraFootie showcased through our flashback analysis, the Serie A champions were consummately outclassed 2-0 by holders Barcelona on Tuesday night, who, despite being without Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, brushed the Nerazzurri aside.

Goals by Gerard Pique and wing-wizard Pedro capped a fine display for the Catalans and left Inter facing a nervous, last-day, winner-takes-all clash at home to Russian champions Rubin Kazan, with elimination a real possibility.

According to respected Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, Inter president Massimo Moratti was furious with the team's abject performance at the Camp Nou.

It is thought that the oil magnate is ready to show the self-proclaimed 'Special One' the door should his troops fail to navigate their way into the last 16 for the first time since 2003.

Corriere dello Sport also alleges Moratti has expressed his disappointment to close insiders and is becoming increasingly dismayed by Mourinho’s inability to transfer the team's domestic form onto European stage.

The speculation could send Liverpool into overdrive in the wake of mounting pressure on under-fire coach Rafa Benitez, with bookmakers slashing the odds on the former Chelsea boss making a sensational return to the Premier League.

Failure to qualify for next season's elite club competition could see Benitez falling on his sword and Liverpool's American owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks would do well to consider the 46 year-old Portuguese coach.

Inter Milan's defeat to the Barcelona means that Mourinho’s men have only won once in nine UEFA Champions League games.

Here is the list which does not make for particularly pleasant reading:

4th November 2008 – DREW - Anorthosis 3-3 Inter Milan

26th November 2008 – LOST - Inter Milan 0-1 Panathinaikos

9th December 2008 – LOST - Werder Bremen 2-1 Inter Milan

24th February 2009 – DREW - Inter Milan 0-0 Manchester United

11th March 2009 – LOST - Manchester United 2-0 Inter Milan

11th September 2009 – DREW - Inter Milan 0-0 Barcelona

29th September 2009 – DREW - Rubin Kazan 1-1 Inter Milan

20th October 2009 – DREW - Inter Milan 2-2 Dynamo Kiev

4th November 2009 – WON - Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Inter Milan

24th November 2009 – LOST - Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan

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