After the dream, the awakening. Milan falls badly in Genoa and says goodbye to the possibility of taking first place in the standings, albeit waiting for today's matches. An unappealable 3-0 that of Marassi, gained at the end of a subdued performance just as Montella feared. Saturday's matches had very different effects for Genoa and Milan: the first one loaded with spring, the second almost upset. This is demonstrated, in order, by the reckless start of the Rossoneri, the expulsion of Paletta, the final collapse.
“It was a difficult race, just as we imagined – sighed Montella. – In the first half we played at a slow pace, then in the second we improved, especially when we were down to 10. Unfortunately, then the 2-0 came and it was all over”.
So goodbye dreams of supremacy, even if in Milan nobody had ever really taken the dream of the Scudetto into consideration. If anything, answers were expected from a mental point of view, a sort of "anti-vertigo test" to think about the future. Then it was the less employed men who failed, those to whom Montella decided to give a chance.
Honda and Poli, the only changes compared to the anti-Juve eleven, come out further reduced and with them Bacca (detached from the game) and Paletta (his foul on Rigoni that left his teammates in 10 is really useless). On the other hand, Genoa deserved the victory, legitimizing it above all at the beginning and at the end of the match.
The first 20' literally annihilated Milan, so much so that Ninkovic's goal was only the logical consequence (11'). Then a lot of racing, tactical organization and heart: all Juric's prerogatives, so far one of the best discoveries (or confirmations, depending on your point of view) of the championship.
Paradoxically, the Rossoneri did better once in numerical superiority, but once the fear passed, the Rossoblu doubled: a cross from the right by Lazovic and an own goal by Kucka, who intervened in a slide to anticipate Pavoletti (80').
The centre-forward, who came on for Simeone in the second half, only postponed his appointment with the net. In fact, in the 86th minute Romagnoli was first drunk and then Donnarumma slipped in, for a 3-0 that sent Marassi into ecstasy.
This evening the spotlights will move to the other side of Milan, for what will probably be the most delicate match on Wednesday. In fact, Inter-Turin will establish De Boer's future, even if everything has already been decided for someone.
“I only think about winning this race – glossed over the Dutch. – I feel I have the locker room in hand and the relationship is serene with the management too, they are always present in Appiano and we talk a lot. I have everyone's trust and I continue to believe in this project despite the difficulties".
Perhaps, the signals from the outside, however, seem to lead in another direction. In these stormy days, no one has taken the trouble to publicly defend the coach, not even now that the general staff of Suning and Thohir are arriving in Milan.
Yesterday too the Dutchman went to the press conference alone: the presence of Ausilio or Zanetti at his side would probably have given his speech much more credibility. Evidently the club knows they can't expose themselves too much in confirming it, testifying to how precarious his bench is.
The match against Turin therefore becomes fundamental, even if far from obvious: to date, in fact, the grenades are even starting favourites. “It's a team that presses high and plays football – explained De Boer. – They are very fit and will arrive at San Siro with confidence. It's the right match to change our season, we have to win."
Inter will try relying on a 4-3-3 formation, with Handanovic in goal, Ansaldi, Miranda, Murillo and Nagatomo in defence, Brozovic, Joao Mario and Banega in midfield, Candreva, Icardi and Perisic in attack.
Mihajlovic dreams of the coup that would bring Toro closer to the Champions League area with the same system, with Hart between the posts, Zappacosta, Rossettini, Moretti and Barreca in the back, Acquah, Valdifiori and Obi in the midfield, Iago Falque, Belotti and Ljajic in the offensive trident .
