Other than third place! Inter are also sticking at home against Cesena, not going beyond a draw which, according to the standings, tastes like half a defeat. The nerazzurri had to return to victory, to give credence to Mancini's proclamations ("third place is not impossible" he said on Saturday) and to increase self-esteem in view of the Europa League, now more than ever the only real goal of the season. Instead, only one draw came out of the postponement at San Siro, a 1-1 comeback which, for the umpteenth time, showed the lights and shadows of the Nerazzurri. A team fighting for the Champions League (or claiming to do so) may not always need a "slap" to react: because a comeback, after all, must be an exception, not a rule.
“We played too subdued in the first half, with little aggression and lucidity – sighed Mancini. – In the second half instead there was a good reaction but, overall, I can't say I saw a great match. Had we won, we would have gone 9 points behind Napoli, but now I think it's very difficult to come back". The coach from Jesi doesn't say it openly but now, probably, he doesn't believe it too much either. Not even his words were able to shake Inter: in his opinion it had to be the match of their life, in reality the first half was given to Cesena. After a fairly soporific half hour, awakened only by Shaqiri's injury (in his place by Kovacic), the Romagna players took the lead at the first acceleration: vertical ball from Carbonero, sleep by the couple Frog-Andreolli and 0-1 signed by Defrel (30' ).
Hands in hair for Mancio who, in the interval, must have raised the decibels quite a bit with his own. Because then, at the start of the second half, we saw a completely different Inter. First an unfairly disallowed goal by Icardi, then Palacio's winning tap on an assist from Maurito himself (47'). In short, in two minutes, more than what was created in the entire first half. With two long teams looking for victory, the show benefited. The Nerazzurri came close to winning several times (Podolski's post was sensational), Cesena did the same (Handanovic was very good at stopping Defrel, plus there was a clear, unseen penalty for a foul by Ranocchia on Carbonero ). In the end, a draw came out that is of little use to both: to Inter, which says goodbye to comeback dreams and to Cesena, whose road to salvation remains rather impervious.
This evening, however, it's up to Milan, awaited by a very important match, not to say decisive, on the Fiorentina field (19 pm). The tension is gripping Inzaghi above all, who has reached the umpteenth last beach of his very troubled season. The countdown, however, has already started: in the best of hypotheses, in fact, Superpippo will coach Milan until May 31st, not one day more. Maurizio Sarri has been added to the long list of suitors in his place, so far the real surprise of the championship at the helm of Empoli. The rumors tell of a Berlusconi enchanted by the game of the Tuscans and a Galliani ready to meet the president Corsi, all with the blessing of Sacchi, always listened to in Arcore.
“These things just make me laugh – Inzaghi retorted at the press conference. – I'm only sorry for the fans, I'm used to fake news being written. I feel the affection of the president and of the club, I don't think they can bluff with me”. A rather strong stance, indicative of a latent nervousness now out of control. And while the Rossoneri coach barricades himself behind his own convictions, many colleagues dream of taking his place. One of these could be Montella himself, once a team-mate in the national team and today a possible executioner at the helm of Fiorentina. “I wish Vincenzo the best but only from tomorrow – explained Inzaghi with one of the rare smiles of his conference. – It was a difficult week, which started badly after the last-minute draw against Verona. But then, as the days went by, I saw the team grow. I hope to play a good game also because, from Tuesday, almost all the injured players will be available again. And then I'll be spoiled for choice”.
But that won't be the case tonight. There are many absences, especially in the middle of the field: in addition to the unavailable Montolivo and De Jong, Poli will also be missing due to disqualification. In the midfield it will be the turn of Van Ginkel, Essien and Bonaventura, to protect a defense with Abate, Mexes, Paletta and Antonelli and to support the offensive trident Honda-Destro-Bonaventura. A lot of trouble for Montella too, forced to give up the suspended Tomovic and the freshly injured Pizarro. The imminent European engagement against Roma could lead the coach to turnover: this is why Salah should start from the bench.
