Milan throws itself away. The 1-1 draw with Udinese sanctions a crisis in the air for some time and, above all, gives the competitors a very tempting chance to take the Champions League place, now officially vacant. Yes, because fourth place, the minimum goal of Gattuso's team, is no longer in the hands of the Rossoneri, not after this disappointing home draw against a decidedly inferior opponent, who however came out of San Siro with a far from undeserved result.
In fact, the Bianconeri not only knew how to harness Milan but even came close to the advantage on several occasions, legitimizing a very important point in terms of salvation in the best possible way. Obviously, the opposite is true for the Rossoneri: the difficulties of the last few matches have fully revealed themselves and force Gattuso to reflect on the real possibilities of hooking up to the Champions League area.
His team's problem is above all mental, given that not even the change of form has managed to restore some brilliance to a maneuver that now seems a distant memory. The idea of Paquetà as attacking midfielder behind the Piatek-Cutrone duo seemed to be the answer to Genoa's offensive difficulties and when Patrick, a few moments before the interval, served Krzysztof for the 1-0 (44') many, despite the enormous difficulties of the game expressed, they thought could be the right answer.
But one swallow doesn't make spring and so halfway through the second half, after a corner that could have made it 2-0, Udinese's withering counterattack came across the field in 11" pushing Lasagna to score his fourth goal at San Siro of his career (65'). The Rossoneri, already forced in the first half to replace the injured Donnarumma and Paquetà with Reina and Castillejo (both will also miss the away match in Turin), tried to win in every way but the chances, except for a central shot by the Spaniard himself , were sterile and unworthy of note, unlike a dangerous Udinese with both De Maio and Lasagna.
At the final whistle at Banti San Siro he expressed all his disappointment, before emptying himself disconsolately over a misstep which, numbers in hand, risks proving to be fatal. “It's a moment like this, it's easy to talk about schemes but first of all we have to get rid of fear – Gattuso's analysis. – Even physically we struggled, the team was soft in the second half. We're playing with the handbrake on even on a mental level, it's a negative moment in which everything is going wrong for us but we have a duty to be able to swerve right away. We must do everything to get out of this negative moment”.
The Champions League race now moves on to the Inter-Lazio-Roma axis, engaged at the same time (21 pm) in this very busy championship Wednesday. For all of them, these are very important tests, starting with Spalletti's Inter, called to redeem Sunday's defeat on the treacherous Genoa pitch. The big news is the return of Icardi, not only among the squad but also among the owners: the Argentine, almost two months after the last time, will lead the attack from the first minute.
“Marotta has done an excellent and decisive job, whoever wants to put us in opposition distorts reality – explained Spalletti – We all emerge defeated from this situation, but now we're starting again. And with him we are certainly stronger." The decision leaves you stunned given what happened just two days ago, when it was the coach who torpedoed Icardi first by sending him to the stands and then attacking him in the press room.
Evidently the night (let's say so) brought advice and the Argentine is back in his place, moreover precisely on the day in which the Curva Nord, through an official statement, publicly distanced itself from him ("Go on with the Inter fans, Icardi go away!” the banner hanging on the gates of Appiano Gentile). Beyond the eternal affair, however, there is a game to play and, possibly, win, especially after Milan's misstep.
Spalletti will return to the 4-2-3-1 formation of the first part of the season with Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda and Asamoah in defence, Gagliardini and Brozovic in midfield, Politano, Nainggolan and Perisic in the trocar, Icardi in attack. Prandelli, back from the bad defeat in Udine (with an argument between Lazovic and Rolon attached) and without the suspended Criscito, will respond with a 4-4-1-1 that will see Radu in goal, Pereira, Romero, Zukanovic and Pezzella in the back , Lazovic, Rolon, Radovanovic and Lerager in the midfield, Sturaro behind the lone striker Kouamé.
At the same time it will also be the turn of Lazio and Rome, the first on the Spal field, the second at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. For Inzaghi's biancocelesti it is a test of the truth: winning in Ferrara would give an enormous signal of strength, any other result, on the other hand, would feel like a wasted opportunity.
"In these two days we have tried to recover our energy - the words of the Biancoceleste coach - Spal is a very organized team, we will have to be good and try to play a great game". Correa's injury induces a more defensive attitude, therefore one less striker (in this case Caicedo) and one more midfielder (Parolo), with the usual Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto and Immobile in attack.
The most delicate match, however, is certainly Roma-Fiorentina, with the Giallorossi forced to win in order not to sink into a crisis with no return. The knockouts with Spal and Napoli have cast doubt on Ranieri's effective ability to lead the team to the Champions League, so much so that some already define his bench as at risk. “We are experiencing a particular moment but I have not spoken to the president Pallotta – said the Roman coach – I expect my parents know how to react to difficulties, it is precisely when things go wrong that we need to help each other. I think 25 hours a day about how to help this team, it's not easy at all but, believe me, I'm putting all of myself into it."
No doubts about the commitment, but certain that the results achieved (2 defeats in 3 games) are clearly below expectations. Ranieri has decided to abandon the canonical 4-4-2 by virtue of a 4-3-3 with Olsen in goal, Santon, Marcano, Fazio and Kolarov in defence, Zaniolo, Nzonzi and Cristante in midfield, Under, Dzeko and Perotti in attack. Pioli, at the last call for the Europa League, will try to definitively bury the Giallorossi with a similar system that will see Lafont between the posts, Milenkovic, Vitor Hugo, Pezzella and Biraghi in the back department, Benassi, Veretout and Gerson in the midfield, Chiesa , Simeone and Muriel in the offensive trident.
