Inter roars, Milan flops. Sunday for the Milanese was decidedly different: splendid for the Nerazzurri, capable of conquering Bergamo with a 4-1 round and relaunching themselves in a European key, sad for the Rossoneri, who came out under the whistles of San Siro after the skimpy 1-1 with Empoli. Roberto Mancini smiles, whose work is finally bearing the long-awaited fruits, Filippo Inzaghi, by now the main defendant in the crisis of play and results, seems resigned. “We are very happy, winning on the Atalanta pitch is never easy – the Nerazzurri coach said. – At 1-1 we struggled a bit and I don't understand why, but I'm satisfied with how we recovered afterwards”. The Nerazzurri's victory belongs above all to him: in addition to Palacio, in fact, Shaqiri and Guarin clocked in, men chosen (the former) and defended (the latter) by him.
“The strange thing was that Fredy didn't perform according to his qualities – Mancio thought. – He's always been a great midfielder, now I hope he's finally released”. The Colombian literally dragged his teammates along with a splendid brace, perhaps essential for the continuation of the season. First it was Shaqiri who unblocked the impasse, moreover after just a minute: a foul by Bellini on Guarin, a penalty and a goal by the Swiss, albeit with a few worries too many. But Atalanta certainly didn't give up and in the 27th minute they equalized with Maxi Moralez, good at coordinating and sending the ball past Handanovic.
For a few minutes Inter reviewed the ghosts of the previous weeks, those in which one episode was enough to turn off the light and sink into the abyss. But then Guarin took the chair: first a left footed shot from the edge of the area (37'), then a right footed one under the cross at the start of the second half (63'). A terrible one-two from the Colombian, even if the knockout blow had come just before (53'), when Benalouane had been sent off for an act against the referee Banti. Palacio's goal was thus only used for the scoresheet, which saw Inter obtain a full-bodied and convincing victory, which brings them back to the European zone.
In short, quite the opposite of Milan, lower and lower both in terms of results (only one victory in seven league games in 2015) and in terms of play. Yesterday's performance was embarrassing, so much so that Empoli welcomed the draw with regret, more a missed opportunity than a precious point. Under accusation, now more than ever, there is Inzaghi, who on the eve had spoken of heart and determination and who instead presented a slow and empty team on the field. “We are in a period like this, we have many injuries and everything happens to us – the justifications from the coach. – We need to work on the head, the players need to find conviction again. I understand the boos from the fans, they come from difficult times and then we can't concede goals with the defense lined up. Let's keep this point, we finished the game with nine players and it could have been worse."
To save, in the afternoon of San Siro, there is only the first Rossoneri goal by Destro, capable of scoring in the only chance he had. The rest was a painful match, in which Empoli controlled as they pleased, having the sole fault of not scoring enough. The Tuscans only found the net in the 69th minute with Maccarone, free to head in undisturbed and in the final they could have won. In fact, Milan, already in difficulty for him, first remained in 10 (expelled Diego Lopez), then ended up even in 9 (Palletta's physical problem after the changes were completed). “We have changed the game system in the last two weeks, we will certainly improve” Inzaghi tried to explain. However, the feeling is that the group no longer believes in him, a bit like fans and clubs. The countdown on his bench goes faster and faster.
