The Atalanta it is in Champions League, Milan on holiday. Saturday's advances certify the presence of Bergamo people in the Europe that counts, but also the total inadequacy of the Devil in the "end of cycle" version: the Juric's Turin thanks and keeps Conference's hopes alive, linked however to the results of the Fiorentina. The real news on Sunday, however, concerns theInter and certainly not for the match with Lazio. Yet another championship celebration, in fact, takes a back seat to the corporate problems of the club, in great difficulty after the (not yet definitive) breakup between Suning e Oak tree, which could distort the future and prospects.
Turin – Milan 3-1, Pioli falls again: “Too much has been said about me, so it's difficult”
Let's start from the field and yesterday's matches, which they saw Turin and Atalanta beat Milan and Lecce. The common denominator is the victory of the stimuli over those who have nothing left to ask for, but if the defeat of the Apulians is all there, the same cannot be said of that of the Rossoneri, which is not very dignified regardless of the ranking. The Devil faced the challenge without the right bite and was punished by a hungry and feisty Toro, even if helped by the opponent's mistakes. Tumor, in particular, was complicit in both Zapata's goal (26') and Ilic's (40'), while Rodriguez's goal (46') was simply a great piece of skill. Milan? All in a couple of plays Pulisic, who first hit the crossbar, then took the penalty converted by Bennacer (55'). And so Pioli, on the day in which Fonseca seems to have separated himself from the competition to take "his" bench, he ends with another defeat and returns home full of regrets. “The result is too clear because we conceded four shots and conceded two goals, but we were careless with their crosses – the Rossoneri coach's analysis -. He misses the last match of the championship, then we'll see. We've been talking about my future for too many months and the team has been good because it's not easy to follow the dictates of a coach in this situation, which is always up for debate. I don't know what emotions I will experience at the San Siro at the end, we'll see. I had no difficulty leading the team because the group was always very cohesive and focused. We had a good championship, but the regret is for theexit from the Champions League in that way and above all the Europa League."
Lecce – Atalanta 0-2, Gasperini grabs the Champions League but puts his future in doubt
The other result on Saturday is even more important, because it determines the qualification of theAtalanta to the next edition of the "Big-eared cup”. The Bergamo players only needed 3 points to score in three games, but Gasperini closed the matter at the first attempt, conquering Lecce despite a reshuffled lineup ahead of Dublin. They were the ones who stamped the pass for the Champions League The Ketelaere (48') and Chess (53'), for one Goddess who will now be able to "enjoy" the Europa League final without other thoughts on his mind, but only with the desire to win that trophy that is still missing from Gasperini's cabinet. “For Atalanta it is the maximum achievement, it's not like we can win the scudetto for now – the Nerazzurri coach pointed out -. The Goddess has a bright future that one day may even lead to the tricolour, but the Champions League is an extraordinary result and I have to thank the players, the numbers are beyond the best expectations. The Bayer Leverkusen it's a caterpillar, but we're not afraid, we'll need to play with courage. My future? We will have the final on Wednesday, then we'll see afterwards: the Champions League is important, but for me the challenge is more important."
Inter – Lazio (18pm, Dazn)
Once again, and this is certainly nothing new, San Siro will dress up for the holidays to welcome theInter champion of Italy, waiting for the challenge with Tudor Lazio. The result, for obvious reasons, interests almost exclusively the Biancocelesti, still clinging to the dream of sixth place: Roma are only one point away and the placement, if Atalanta were to win the Europa League and not finish among the top four, would even be worth there Champions League. However, the Nerazzurri do not want to greet their fans with a defeat, even more so on the Sunday that will officially hand over the scudetto. Inzaghi's team will be rewarded on stage with the highly anticipated Cup, after which San Siro will switch to "concert mode", with performances by the very Inter fans Ligabue e Tananai. The celebrations will continue tomorrow with the party at the Sforzesco Castle, a cocktail dinner with 700 guests including representatives of institutions and VIP fans. The real game, however, is played on corporate front and there the news is decidedly less good. Tomorrow (or rather Tuesday, given the public holiday in Luxembourg) the technical deadlines for the registration expire Oaktree loan repayment, 375 million and Zhang he was thinking of refinancing through the Pimco fund but on which there is no agreement. The negotiation with the Americans, in fact, has ended at the behest of Oaktree and now there are only two paths to follow: a new loan with decidedly shorter terms (six months in which Suning will have to find a buyer), or the immediate collection of the club by the fund, which would become its new owner. Scenario that turns the world upside down project by Marotta and partners, but certified by Zhang himself in a letter published on the Inter website.
Zhang comes out: "Oaktree's behavior is disappointing, the club's future is at risk"
“Over the months leading up to the expiration date of the structure of financing with Oaktree, we have made every attempt to find an amicable solution with our partner, including offering multiple possibilities for Oaktree to obtain a complete and immediate financial return – the words of the Nerazzurri president -. Unfortunately, our efforts thus far have been exacerbated by legal threats and a lack of meaningful involvement from Oaktree. This has all been very frustrating and disappointing, but this behavior is now creating a risk situation for the Club which could seriously jeopardize its stability. On behalf of theInter and as President, I want to reassure hundreds of millions of fans around the world that we will do everything we can to protect our colours, our founding values and our stability. We are committed to working towards a peaceful resolution with Oaktree and continuing our success story for our beloved Inter."
Controversial Tudor: "We can't wait until June 2nd to find out the rankings..."
“We will need a perfect Lazio because we are going to the home of the strongest in Italy who play beautiful and effective football – Tudor's thoughts -. They are the best team overall this year, who do a great job in growing, they should be congratulated. We will go to San Siro to do our best, there are 6 points up for grabs and a ranking to be established with a view to which Europe we will play. We can't finish and wait a week to know our fate. We need to think about these things first, it's not good for anyone but I think whoever decides realizes it."
Inter – Lazio, the probable lineups
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro, Thuram
Coach: Inzaghi
Disqualified: none
Unavailable: Unripe
Lazio (3-4-2-1): Mandas; Patric, Casale, Gila; Marusic, Vecino, Rovella, Pellegrini; Kamada, Zaccagni; Castellanos
Coach: Tudor
Disqualified: Romagnoli
Unavailable: Sepe
Rome – Genoa (20.45pm, Dazn)
A very delicate match also at the Olimpico, where the Rome he will try to lock down (or defend, depending on what happens three hours earlier at San Siro) sixth place. The fifth, as previously mentioned, went away with Atalanta's victory in Lecce, but in reality hopes had already faded in last Sunday's direct clash, when the Bergamo team had proven to be much more superior than 2-1 the final. The Giallorossi's ambitions for the Champions League are now reduced to a minimum and involve a series of setbacks: Gasperini's team, first of all, will have to win the Europa League against Bayer LeverkusenFurthermore, they will not have to finish the championship among the top four. Complicated scenarios, which however pass from today's success against the Genoa, otherwise the Friedkins will just have to resign themselves to another year without the most important Europe. The match should not present any particular pitfalls, even if Gilardino's rossoblu showed against Milan and Sassuolo that they are not on holiday at all: a good impression in a prestigious stadium like the Olimpico, everyone likes it and the Ligurians, already winners in the previous August against Lazio are no exception. De Rossi hopes that the past week has restored some luster to a group that appeared to be in physical and mental reserve, but he too knows that the objectives no longer depend on their own strength.
De Rossi is already thinking about the future: "I'm not asking for top players, but I have my untouchables"
“We have an important goal to achieve, they play well but are without motivation – the thought of The Rossi -. Everything is nice, but we have to win. Gilardino surprises me, he's special, taciturn, I didn't think he'd become so good as a coach, he's done a lot of training and now Genoa is one of the best. My contract? We found the agreement in ten minutes, very little left. We haven't talked about any players with the management, perhaps it's better to valorize our players. For me there are some untouchables in the squad, but I prefer not to say their names as well as the area of the pitch that needs strengthening. Everyone has their own way of doing the market, but the constant is that we always finished sixth or seventh. Something needs to change, the strong coach must impose himself to be bought by whoever he wants and the strong club must satisfy him. The first requirement will be hunger, they must feel in Rome as if it were the best thing that ever happened to them."
Rome – Genoa, the probable lineups
Rome (4-3-3): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Baldanzi, Lukaku, El Shaarawy
Coach: De Rossi
Disqualified: none
Unavailable: Spinazzola
Genoa (3-5-2): Martinez; Vogliacco, De Winter, Vasquez; Spence, Frendrup, Badelj, Strootman, Martin; Gudmundsson, Retegui
Coach: Gilardino
Disqualified: none
Unavailable: Matturro, Messias
