One step away from the Europa League. Inter also wins in Udine and moves to just one point from sixth place, currently occupied by Fiorentina. And considering that the Viola will visit Juventus tonight, the Nerazzurri can feel reasonable optimism. The good news, however, ends there. Of the Friuli match, in fact, there is only the result to save. For fun and personality, please come back to the next one, when Inter, perhaps, will have absorbed Roberto Mancini's dressing down. His performance was incredible: as good in the first half as it was absurd in the second, with the aggravating circumstance that, at that point in the match, the Nerazzurri were ahead by two men (Domizzi and Badu sent off) and one goal.
“I don't understand why, after the double red, some of my people started playing around – growled Mancio. – It is not possible to question such a game, evidently sometimes they do not think and do not use their brains. It felt like a late summer game, this is not good. We just can't afford such an attitude." A full blown outburst, no doubt about it. Moreover, justified, because Inter, for the umpteenth time, managed to complicate their lives in an incredible way. After 40 discrete minutes, made up of ball laps and substantial dominance of the pitch (but with few scoring chances), the Nerazzurri find themselves in numerical superiority: Domizzi's fault who, already booked, knocks Hernanes out in mid-field, taking the inevitable second yellow.
Nothing to say to referee Rocchi, guilty instead of a sensational blunder at the beginning of the second half, when he concedes a penalty to Inter for an alleged (if not non-existent) contact between Danilo and Kovacic: Icardi thanks and makes it 0-1 (48' ). But Udinese didn't agree and two minutes later they equalized with Di Natale, who was very good at sprinting on the counterattack and beating Handanovic with a soft and angled right foot. Great party for Totò, at 205 in Serie A on par with a sacred monster like Roberto Baggio. The match is beautiful and balanced, then, in the 58th minute, Badu ruins everything: exaggerated protests with Rocchi for an alleged foul by Hernanes, direct red and Udinese in 9.
Mancini plays the Podolski card for Guarin and, 48 seconds later, the choice pays off: left foot under the cross and a 1-2 goal, the German's first in the league. Inter ahead and with two more men, game essentially on ice. And instead the Nerazzurri complicate their lives in an almost inexplicable way. The many spaces granted by the black and whites are not exploited too sufficiently, with the result that the match remains substantially in the balance. And in the final, the hosts even came close to equalizing with Perica, whose header was saved for a corner by D'Ambrosio.
This evening, however, it's up to Milan, engaged in San Siro against Genoa. The Europa League discourse applies almost exclusively to the Ligurians but the Rossoneri still have the obligation to win. In a half-empty and fierce stadium (the Curva Sud has already announced a tough dispute), Inzaghi's men will have to win the three points, in an attempt to cancel Udine's fool. Where, in addition to the defeat, vitriolic controversy ensued: the echo of the quarrel on the bus (the coach defined the players as "unworthy", they returned the adjective to the sender) came loud and clear. With the team in retirement (for an indefinite period, they let the club know), relations with the press at an all-time low (yesterday Inzaghi spoke only to the Milan Channel) and fans on a war footing, it is clear how difficult the moment is.
“I was sad to read certain things – glossed over the Rossoneri coach. – The boys have understood the usefulness of retiring, now we need to demonstrate attachment to the shirt. I am convinced that Udine was only an episode but the answers must be given on the pitch". After the outburst on Saturday evening it is a partial retreat, however strengthened (?) by the words of Abbiati and Montolivo. "No one has responded badly to the coach, we are all with him" said the goalkeeper, "we decided together to retire" the captain reiterated.
Tonight, however, we will really understand how things are. Inzaghi, forced to give up on Paletta (knee problems), will change a bit in all departments. In defense, in front of Diego Lopez, De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami and Antonelli will play, in midfield Van Ginkel, Poli (favorite over De Jong) and Bonaventura, in attack Honda, Destro and Menez. After more than 3 months, El Shaarawy will also be back: the attacker has recovered from his foot injury and will be back at the coach's disposal. In any case, beating Genoa will be anything but easy. The rossoblu want the Europa League and anticipate a battle: Gasperini, without Perotti (season over), will line up an offensive 3-4-3 with Iago Falque, Pavoletti and the former Niang in attack. Important day on the pitch, but also, if not above all, off.
In fact, the summit between Silvio Berlusconi and Bee Taechaubol is expected this evening: the Thai, yesterday in Geneva (so much so that he unleashed a yellow, then returned), will present himself in Arcore with all the credentials to buy Milan. Who yesterday, to close the circle, presented the 2014 financial statements: losses of 91,3 million, covered, as usual, by Fininvest. Almost certainly for the last time.
