Inter is also battling Roma for the Serie A title, holding a two-point lead with two rounds remaining, then will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 22 in Madrid.

“Three titles would be fantastic, two would be positive and one would be nothing to be ashamed of,” Inter coach Jose Mourinho said Tuesday.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri called it a “a battle between two protagonists.” “Inter has won the league the last four years and I'm very happy that there's an Italian side in the Champions League final,” Ranieri said. “We're honored to face a squad like that in the Italian Cup final. We've got a lot of respect for them, but we're going to play our game.” Mourinho was perplexed about why the game was being played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

“This doesn't happen anywhere else in the world where a team plays the cup final in its home stadium,” he said.

Roma has added motivation after watching city rival Lazio lose 2-0 to Inter on Sunday, with Lazio fans delighting in their team's loss because it dented Roma's title ambitions.

“I'm not going to say anything about Lazio-Inter,” Ranieri said. “We're concerned with ourselves, not the others.” However, Roma executive Gian Paolo Montali called the Lazio-Inter game “one of the worst events in Italian sports.” Although he pointed out that Inter was not at fault.

“They didn't have anything to do with it,” Montali said.

“Inter is a great team, and they're in the final of the Champions League. If Inter plays a great game, we'll be the first to admit their superiority.” Roma president Rosella Sensi said she would have been “ashamed to win that way” if she were Inter.

However, Mourinho said his club had to give its all to beat Lazio, and that it was a challenge to focus while still on the emotional high of eliminating Barcelona in the Champions League four days earlier.

“I want respect for my team and for my players,” Mourinho said, banging his hand on a table for emphasis.

Security has been boosted for the match.

“Our fans should come to celebrate. The reason we got here is because of our fans' support and the energy they have provided for us,” Ranieri said. “This should be a display of sportsmanship.” Inter supporters also should come in a merry mood, Mourinho suggested.

“Only an Inter fan 60 or older could have lived through a better moment like this,” he said, referring to Inter's two European Cups in 1964 and 1965.

Roma beat Inter 2-1 in their last meeting in Serie A, and the clubs have already met in the Italian Cup final three of the past four years, with Roma winning twice and Inter once. Roma is attempting to break a tie with Juventus and win its record 10th title overall, while Inter is chasing its sixth Italian Cup.

Mourinho must find a replacement for center back Lucio, who will miss the match with a right leg muscle problem.

Veteran defender Marco Materazzi is a possible selection.

Coach Claudio Ranieri rested captain Francesco Totti and Luca Toni for a half each in a win over Parma on Saturday, freshening them for the final, and has Mirko Vucinic to choose from in attack.

Mourinho again wouldn't commit to staying with Inter beyond this season.

“No, in football you can never say,” he said.

And if Inter does achieve the treble, will Mourinho consider himself the best coach in the world? “I don't consider myself the best,” he said. “But I am someone who gives his all to his team and someone who sleeps well because he gave everything he has - whether he wins or not. I give my best all the time.” 041755 may 10GMT