Naples sings, Milan stammers. The 34th matchday certifies the crisis of a city that has always been at the center of Italian football and today forced to fight for sixth place in the standings, the last profit to qualify for the double preliminary round of the Europa League. A disaster for Inter, seventh and currently out of the cups, a meager consolation for Milan, still "in" but in worrying physical and mental decline.
In short, the opposite of Napoli, which since yesterday is back to hoping for second place: Roma are just one point away and given the calendar (the Giallorossi will have to go to San Siro and then face the leaders Juve) there are many reasons to believe it. The Azzurri went to Inter as favorites and the predictions were met: the final 0-1 in fact does not exactly portray the match in Milan, for long stretches dominated by Sarri and his hosts.
“The club supports Pioli's work 100% – the press release issued a few hours before the match signed by Zhang Jindong – The long-term strategy is also based on building a solid company and a world-class organization, being part of Inter means fighting to win every game”.
Important words which, however, had no effect on the field. In fact, it was Napoli who took the 3 points thanks to a goal by Callejon at the end of the first half (43'), with the kind collaboration of Nagatomo, inspired in spite of himself by Gresko's gesture on that famous 5 May 2002. Before and after many blue chances and a confused and trembling Inter, now disconnected from a season that many hope will end as soon as possible.
"The spirit was the right one, unfortunately, however, we are living in a moment in which we are not very dynamic and precise – sighed Pioli – Napoli are a very strong team, plus we made a serious mistake on the decisive goal".
“Having finished the match with only one goal and the only regret, we should have finished it earlier – commented Sarri – Now we go forward but without making tables for second place, if Roma were to win them all we could not do anything about it”.
The blue victory also made Milan's Sunday less bitter, which thus ended up earning a point over Inter despite Crotone's misstep. The +3 in the standings over his cousins, however, is not enough to cheer up the Rossoneri sky, increasingly dark after the last period which brought only one victory in the last 5 games.
Montella wanted a precise answer to clear the knockout with Empoli, instead he had to settle for a draw (which was a comeback) against the third last in the class. Crotone bit the match with the hunger of those who must necessarily win to save themselves and after 8' found the advantage with Trotta, Zapata good at joking and beating Donnarumma.
Nicola's team would also find the double with Trotta but the assistant Preti unjustly led Banti to offside, thus annulling the 2-0. AC Milan, however, after having risked other times, then found an equal with Paletta (50') but not the advantage that would have restored a bit of polish to the classification, increasingly modest and now linked only to sixth place.
“We go home with an extra point but also a little disappointed and angry – Montella's analysis – We suffered a lot in the first quarter of an hour, then we improved and deserved the draw. In terms of spirit and will I can't reproach the boys for anything, but from a technical point of view we could have done better. In the race for the Europa League, however, we must not fear anyone but only look to ourselves”.
Once upon a time Milan competed for league titles and cups, now only for sixth place in the standings: a sad inertia, which for the moment not even the millions from China are able to change.
