Inter Milan is regarded as the number one favorite to win the UEFA Champions League. This is obviously not a good thing for Inter Milan, which means that they are the target of public criticism.
However, Li Ang is not too worried about this. In fact, it is a well-known fact that Inter Milan is in hot form this season and is stronger than in 2006.
As Li Ang said to the players in the locker room: We are very strong. This is a fact. Only the weak always feel sorry for themselves. There is no strong person who is distressed because of his strength!
"We just need to be ourselves and don't worry about the rest!"
"Don't be arrogant! Believe in yourself!"
"Don't look at the media now praising us like we are like flowers! I believe you must also know very well that there are people waiting for us to do somersaults and watch the excitement!"
"I bet that if we lose in the league or suffer a defeat in the Champions League, the media that praised us today for how great we are will criticize us a hundred times crazier than the current praise!"
"So, remember it all, only the one who laughs at the end is the real king!"
Li Ang knew that this was a critical moment, so he promptly convened a conversation with the whole team. In addition to cheering up the whole team, he also wanted to inoculate the whole team and prevent the players from being arrogant.
Yes, it feels good to be regarded as the number one enemy by other European giants. Even opponents like Barcelona and Manchester United dare not go straight to the edge. However, Li Ang has to guard against the players being complacent.
Of course, what he said could only serve as a certain warning. As for whether the players listened or took it to heart, he was not sure.
However, if a player really has a mental problem and becomes undisciplined, Li Ang will never be merciful.
***********
March 16, 2008, Milan, Meazza Stadium.
Inter Milan vs. Palermo.
There is another focus battle in this round of the league, which is a direct contest between Roma and AC Milan at home. Roma encounters a strong enemy. If Roma is blocked, Inter Milan will be one step closer to winning the Serie A championship in advance.
For Inter Milan, if they can secure the Serie A title early, they can also shift more attention to the UEFA Champions League.
Of course, in order to expand their lead, in addition to AC Milan's help, they must also win Palermo at home today.
Palermo is currently ranked in the middle of Serie A. After two seasons of running in, Zampania's team's strength cannot be underestimated.
The goalkeeper is the veteran Serie A goalkeeper Fontana.
The defense is led by two current Italian internationals, Barzagli and Zaccardo, as well as fringe international Balzaretti.
The midfield is controlled by two Serie A veterans, Migliaccio and Simplicio.
There are two Italian internationals, Miccoli and Amauri, on the front line.
After Li Ang studied Palermo, he was also a little surprised that such a team actually has so many new and old Italian international players.
Therefore, Li Ang did not underestimate Palermo. Although such a team seems harmless, it is still a bit difficult to deal with when it occasionally gets windy.
***********
Li Ang expected that this game would not be too easy, but he still did not expect the course of the game.
In this game, Palermo coach Zamparini had a clear goal from the beginning. They were aiming for a draw.
Palermo retracted across the board.
At this point, Li Ang has long been prepared. With Inter Milan's current strong offensive power, many middle and lower Serie A teams will choose such conservative tactics when facing them. Although conservative tactics will not prevent failure, Inter Milan's previous two
Seventeen consecutive victories are proof. However, conservative play can at least avoid a disastrous defeat to the greatest extent. What if luck comes and draws with Inter Milan? They don't dare to attack. Everyone knows that facing Inter Milan
Attacking means seeking death.
However, what made Li Ang frown was that Palermo's fighting movements were too big.
The Palermo people heavily defended the half-court. As long as they entered the dangerous zone they had preset in mind, the Palermo players ran and fought without hesitation, and their movements were very big.
In the 31st minute of the game, Aguero was violated by Zacardo and fell to the ground in pain.
After the team doctor entered the field to provide emergency treatment and examination for Aguero, he immediately made a substitution gesture.
While Li Ang was letting Balotelli get up to warm up and prepare to play, he went to the fourth official to protest: Zaccardo's action was a big foul, and the referee didn't even give out a yellow card, which made him dissatisfied.
Balotelli came on as a substitute, replacing Aguero who was unable to continue the game due to injury.
At the end of the first half, the score on the field was zero to zero. Faced with Palermo's pressing and foul tactics, Inter Milan was unable to break through Palermo's goal.
***********
During the halftime break, Li Ang particularly emphasized that the players should be careful about Palermo's big moves and try to avoid injuries.
Although Li Ang reminded the players, he was unable to prevent the Palermo players from committing foul fouls.
Just at the beginning of the second half, Balzaretti made a flying tackle, causing David Silva to be injured.
Leon could only replace David Silva with Arshavin.
Although the referee finally showed Balzaretti a yellow card this time, Li Ang was still furious.
In his opinion, it was the referee's connivance that led to Silva's injury. If the referee had strictly played cards in the first half of the game to curb the foul behavior of the Palermo players, the behavior of the Palermo players would have been
Will restrain himself, in this case, maybe Silva's injury can be avoided.
The two consecutive substitutions were passive substitution adjustments due to player injuries. This not only wasted two substitutions early, but also made Li Ang worried about the player's injury.
It seemed that the referee finally had enough patience with the frequent fouls committed by Palermo players. Less than twenty minutes into the second half, four Palermo players received yellow cards.
Inter Milan was also kicked out of their anger, and captains Zanetti and Carlos also received yellow cards.
In the 69th minute of the game, Palermo center back Barzagli made a big foul and was shown a second yellow card by the referee and sent off with a red card.
***********
Li Ang sneered on the sidelines. He didn't appreciate the referee's affection. If this person hadn't been able to control the penalty scale well in the first half, red and yellow cards wouldn't have been flying all over the place in the second half.
The Palermo people's pressing press that ran all over the field consumed a lot of energy, and the foul tactics left them with one less player to fight. This made Palermo's tough defense begin to collapse after facing Inter Milan's continued strength.
In the 76th minute of the game, Arshavin sent a diagonal pass. Balotelli pulled to the wing, took two steps and passed the ball into the penalty area. Adriano headed the ball across, and Arshavin followed up with a volley shot.
Break the door!
One to zero!
After conceding the goal, Palermo's morale suffered a major blow. They came for a draw. Once they conceded the goal, they thought that all the previous efforts of Heze and the others were in vain, not to mention that the team still had one less person to fight. Palermo
His fighting spirit began to disintegrate.
Subsequently, Adriano dribbled the ball into the penalty area and succeeded with a powerful shot, helping Inter Milan lock the score at 2-0.