Gattuso saves the bench and launches the challenge to Lazio and Inter. The 3-2 over Sampdoria allows Milan to reach 15 points, 3 less than the fourth-placed Biancocelesti, 4 from the Nerazzurri. An interesting scenario considering tonight's direct clash at the Olimpico (20.30 pm) which, of course, will slow down at least one of the two and above all Wednesday's match against Genoa, recovery of the 1st day.
In short, Gattuso finds himself in the paradoxical situation of having the goal close at hand, and at the same time having narrowly avoided being exonerated. Consequences of a frenetic football tied only to results, but also of a team that is too fickle to give certainties.
Yesterday's success doesn't erase the psycho-technical problems of a group capable of alternating quality with sensational voids, all just a few minutes away. That was the same with Sampdoria, with the difference that, this time, the 3 points remained at San Siro. It's not yet time to consider the emergency closed, but it was certain that the victory was needed like the wind, especially in a comeback and with all the forwards scoring.
The 4-4-2 launched by Gattuso passed the exam: Cutrone (header from a cross in the 17th minute), Higuain (close tap-in in the 36th minute) and Suso (big left foot from distance in the 62nd minute) they scored and convinced. Unfortunately, however, the same cannot be said of the defensive phase, folded first by a great goal from Saponara (21'), then from an interminable Quagliarella (31'). Defensive limitations that do not improve, but also an attack that has already produced 18 goals in 9 days: better, to be clear, only Milan 2011/12 (9), the one in which Ibrahimovic, Pato, Cassano, Robinho, Inzaghi played … “I want to thank the club and the team, I had asked to see 23 rabid dogs and, in addition to this, I also saw quality – commented Gattuso with relief. – We were good, I liked the boys a lot both for the quality and for the game. Now we have to work, continue to improve and try until the end." The Rossoneri coach will certainly have a calmer Monday than last and will be able to watch Lazio-Inter with much more interested eyes.
At the Olimpico, bad weather permitting (the Lazio Region has already issued a code orange alert due to the rains, the situation will be monitored until the end but there is a risk of postponement), the third and fourth in the standings will face each other, in what lies ahead like the rematch of last May 20, when the two competed for the last place for the Champions League. The Nerazzurri took him and the thing, on the blue-and-white bank of the Tiber, has never been forgotten. Spalletti knows that he will face a dangerous and angry team but his team is no joke either.
In fact, the defeat in Barcelona does not affect the 7 consecutive victories collected previously: to resume the discussion tonight would mean hooking Napoli in the standings, thus further raising the bar of ambitions. “Our goal is to place ourselves back in the top four, for us to confirm ourselves in the Champions League would be like winning a trophy – Spalletti glossed over. – By now everything aspires to that and there are many strong teams in the running, having said that I expect a difficult match, we know Lazio's value well ". In short, no flight of fancy but great realism and concentration, with the awareness that winning would give a great signal of strength to the whole championship.
The coach will have to try without Nainggolan and therefore with a different 4-2-3-1 from the usual with Handanovic in goal, Vrsaljko, Sriniar, De Vrij and Dalbert in defence, Gagliardini and Brozovic in midfield, Politano, Keita and Perisic behind the untouchable Icardi. “It is normal that there is particular attention for this match, we remember well what happened on May 20th and we will keep it in mind – thundered Inzaghi. – We dominated for 75', then collapsed in the final and lost the Champions League qualification. Inter is built to aim for the Scudetto but we have shown that we can play it on equal footing”. Fiery words from the Lazio coach, determined to redeem himself (and finally win a direct match) relying on a 3-5-2 with Strakosha between the posts, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi and Radu in the back, Marusic, Parolo, Badelj, Milinkovic -Savic and Lulic in the midfield, Caicedo and Immobile in attack.
