Stanković, however, remained with the club to fight for a spot on Mourinho's team, and soon after the season started, he managed to achieve his aim. On 19 October 2008, Stanković scored a superb goal in Inter's 4–0 hammering of Luciano Spalletti's Roma away at Stadio Olimpico. After receiving a pass from Sulley Muntari, he drove the ball past the Roma goalkeeper into the net, his 24th goal in all competitions for the "Nerazzuri", thus ending a year-long goal drought. The relief and vindication after everything he had gone through during the summer, was evident in his goal celebration, and in interviews after the match Stanković talked of his joy to be fully back on form, following the injury-prone previous season. He also thanked Mourinho for giving him an opportunity, even after the two did not get off on the right foot during the summer off-season.