We were at the beginning of July, in full brawl for the contract renewal and with Rangnick at the gates. Ibrahimovic released a very controversial interview in which he declared: “If I stay, we’ll fight for the Scudetto”. Everyone, including myself, interpreted it as a beautiful and good provocation. Addressed to those who (Gazidis) had already decided to kill him in pursuit of a bizarre project of Teutonic integralism. Ibra’s “scudetto” seemed like a paradox. And instead, 3 months later, AC Milan found themselves first in the standings with full points and alone, back to win a derby after 4 and a half years and is increasingly led by its Swedish leader who, in addition to directing the team from the field, is the top scorer with 4 goals in two games.
Even after the best evening since his return, Ibra returns to caress the scudetto dream, rightly dampened by Pioli, aware of the fact that Milan is not even in the top 4 of the Serie A championship as regards the field values. returning to the Champions League would already be an exceptional feat in a season that is long, with many matches and a squad that is not up to par, neither in terms of numbers nor in terms of quality. Just think of the first substitutions of this derby. Inter, even if “reworked”, can send Eriksen and Sanchez into the field in the second half. Milan, on the other hand, as the first alternatives to the owners proposes Castillejo and Krunic. If you allow a big difference. It’s like saying that Conte drives a Ferrari, while Pioli is on board a Panda. Yet, in yesterday’s beautiful derby, which only missed the audience, the Rossoneri made up for the technical gap with a truly remarkable test of strategy and team unity.
Ancelotti had defined his perfect match “Milan-Manchester”. Here, in the same way we can define this derby as the perfect match for Pioli. He played in the assault of Inter for 30 minutes taking advantage of the moment of greatest brilliance and clarity of the Swedish champion. He struck twice to set the game on favorite tracks like a perfect script. Then came the distraction that reopened the game, but unlike what happened in the tremendous pre-lockdown derby, the team did not crumble. Indeed, Lukaku’s goal, first conceded by AC Milan in 4 matches, infused the group with a ferocious concentration in defending the leading goal. An unusual attitude for a very young team, which could tend to get confused at the first difficulty. But this “worker” Milan remained more than ever in the game and, minute by minute, Donnarumma’s goal was getting smaller and smaller for the Nerazzurri Unlike Milan they will really fight for the title, but from this evening they must learn what it really means to be a “team”. This was taught to everyone by a 40-year-old boy who, in less than a year, alone, managed to achieve the feat in which 3 properties, a dozen managers, 7/8 coaches and a myriad of players had failed. He gave us Milan back. Thanks Ibra. This is worth more than cups and badges.
