Make it or brake it. Gattuso's Milan is preparing for a very important Sunday, for its present and, above all, for its future. The home match against Turin (20.30 pm) is a crucial turning point for the race for fourth place and Roma's victory over Cagliari, with an overtaking move, makes it even more delicate. It goes without saying that the approach to the match was far from serene: the fault of the Italian Cup and theyet another misstep in this strange Rossoneri season. Strange yes, because if the results obtained and the game expressed would suggest a failure, then there is the opposite of the standings, perfectly in line with the objectives at the beginning of the season. The mistakes made have therefore not yet proved to be decisive, however it is clear that the bonuses are not infinite and that tonight, against an opponent loaded with the prospect of being able to hook (and overcome by virtue of direct clashes) precisely Milan, Gattuso can no longer be wrong.
“In moments of difficulty we've always had the soul, today we're missing it – acknowledged the Rossoneri coach. - You can also play badly but with suffering and the heart to get out of it, today we miss all of this. We got bogged down on this thing, we have to be united, not think about our backyard, but think like one head. In Turin we will play for the shirt, the career of the players and the entire Milan universe”. Strong words, from those who know they have really arrived at the decisive moment of the season. A lot of the Rossoneri's future and also of him will pass from fourth place, although many now think that the streets will separate regardless of the final result. “You've been saying since July that I have to leave – glossed over the person concerned. – I hear too much talk, about my future and that of the players: but that's enough now, it's time to think only of Milan".
And in Turin, of course, because today's match looks like a play-off. Gattuso, after the failed experiment of the 3-4-3 anti-Lazio, will return to the old (and beloved) 4-3-3 with Donnarumma in goal, Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessie, Bakayoko and Paquetà in midfield, Suso, Cutrone and Calhanoglu in attack, with Piatek sensationally on the bench due to a technical choice. “I have little faith in Milan, a very strong team that will play the match of their life tomorrow – thundered Mazzarri. – We will have to do it more than them, for our growth and for our people”. The grenade coach knows that this game gives him a chance, perhaps unrepeatable, to play for a place in the Champions League, and he wants to make the most of it with the usual 3-5-2 that will see Sirigu between the posts, Izzo, Nkolou and Moretti in the back department, Aina, Meité, Lukic, Rincon and Ansaldi in the midfield, in support of the offensive duo composed of Berenguer and Belotti.
Very interested spectators of the match were Gasperini's Atalanta (engaged tomorrow against Udinese), Inzaghi's Lazio (in Genoa against Sampdoria at 18 pm) and Ranieri's Roma, who returned to fourth place solo thanks to yesterday's success against Cagliari. A 3-0 without replies that of the Olimpico, even close in the light of the numerous opportunities created, among which a crossbar (Pastore), a pole (Dzeko) and various miracles of Cragno stand out. It was known that the Giallorossi had much more motivation than the Rossoblu, but given the many seasonal missteps it was legitimate to have some doubts about Roma's approach and its maturity. The answer, evidently positive for Ranieri, came in less than 10' when the giallorossi found themselves ahead by even two goals thanks to Fazio (5') and the revived Pastore (8'). The road to fourth place thus turned into a highway and if the Olimpico had to wait until the 86th minute to celebrate the 3-0 (Kolarov), it was only due to bad luck and imprecision, certainly not due to resistance of an evidently satiated Cagliari.
To give further emotions to the Romanist people, Totti then thought about it, author of a pro Conte declaration that authorizes dreams of glory. “Antonio is one of the best in Europe and there are great teams behind him – explained the Captain. – When you can have such a strong coach then you have a better chance of winning, someone like this I'm not saying that he would have carte blanche but everything to do well yes. And I add that the choice will not depend on fourth place…”. Words that suggest a very hot negotiation, otherwise why risk deluding a hot square like Rome? And Ranieri's subsequent ones (“I would be happy to see Conte on this bench, in fact I would even go and pick him up at the airport!”) go even more in that direction. But whether it doesn't depend on fourth place remains to be seen: that's why Turin-Milan can really change the fate of many.
