Yet another Black Sunday in Milan. Which is now counting down to the end of the season, waiting to revolutionize everything for the next one. Milan weeps, demolished by Benitez's Napoli with a clean 3-0, Inter is certainly not laughing, stopped at the San Siro by Chievo and ever further away from the Europa League. But if the Nerazzurri, standings in hand, retain some hope to end the season with dignity, the Rossoneri are now in disarray.
The few who believed in a proud reaction (if there was any) had to change their minds after just 40”: De Sciglio's foul on Hamsik, a penalty for Napoli and the full-back's expulsion, the fastest of the whole championship. Higuain went on the spot but Diego Lopez hypnotized him, once again proving to be a goalkeeper of much greater depth. In short, no collapse, at least for a good hour. Milan put themselves in total protection of their own goal, almost completely limiting offensive sorties. On the one shot he even risked taking the lead but Bonaventura's header, with Andujar beaten, stopped on the post.
It would have been too much because Napoli, although far from having the best evenings, created a lot, a lot. However, the game-changing goal only arrived in the 70th minute: protagonist, as in the case of the penalty, Marek Hamsik, who this time did it "alone" with an unstoppable right foot. It was the decisive gust of wind, because within 6 minutes the Rossoneri castle completely collapsed. First Higuain (74'), then Gabbiadini (76') rounded up the result, bringing Napoli within 4 points of Lazio and sinking, for the umpteenth time, Inzaghi's Milan.
“I'm sorry about the expulsion after 40 seconds, it totally conditioned the match – the analysis of the AC Milan coach. – I can't blame the boys for anything, they fought, suffered and even came close to taking the lead. It was clear that once the first goal was conceded, the game would be over. I ask the team to finish the season with dignity, I will take the opportunity to try out some young players from the youth sector". He will have four games to do it because the club, through Galliani, has made it known that Pippo will finish the season, whatever the next results. A matter of logic (changing now would be useless) but also, if not above all, of projects.
At Milan, in fact, everyone is focused on corporate affairs, which yesterday enriched with a new chapter. While Bee Taechaubol was returning to Bangkok, Silvio Berlusconi received Richard Lee's Chinese consortium in Arcore (representing the latter, absent, were his partners). "There is no ongoing negotiation with them" the president denied in a note to Ansa, but the doubt that he is playing on several tables remains, and how if it remains.
Mancini's Inter doesn't have these problems, but certainly he too has little to laugh about. His team did not go beyond the 0-0 draw against Chievo, thus failing to connect with the Genoese and further away from Fiorentina. Colorless performance that of the Nerazzurri, a clear step back from the victories over Roma and Udinese. “I'm sorry, we could have taken sixth place but we have too many difficulties in scoring goals – explained Mancini. – I'm not angry, we tried in every way but if you don't score by shooting 24 times it means you have a problem”.
The coach from Jesi, this time, has chosen to use a carrot instead of a stick, in an attempt to keep the season finale alive. However, it is difficult that he was really satisfied by his match: lots of ball possession but confused and not very pungent actions. Apart from Vidic's post (19'), Inter never really worried about Bizzarri and, on balance, it was Chievo who built up the best goals. Above all those of Paloschi, stopped twice by Handanovic, and Biraghi, whose shot hit the crossbar.
Europe is still possible (Sampdoria is only 2 points away) but Genoa is in the middle, as well as Turin who still have to play. What is more worrying is the calendar: Lazio, Juventus, Genoa and Empoli, here are the last 4 days awaiting Inter. A change of pace is urgently needed, and a decided one too. Otherwise Milan football will remain out of the cups, thus touching the lowest point since 1955.
