Winning the Trofeo TIM has never been something to write
home about. Especially if you believe the curse, that the winners don’t go on
to win the Scudetto that season. But beating Inter is always something to brag
about. Like a superhero defeating a villain, every meeting is a Derby, every
meeting means more than just a game. Watching Inter lose to Sassuolo and thus
come dead last in a tournament that no one cares about was also enjoyable. And
to a certain extent, there was some pleasure in our worst players finishing the
deal, even if it had to be on penalties, and raising a trophy amongst the also mediocre
pyrotechnics while Inter fans sobbed and tried to pretend that they didn’t
care. So despite the bizarre 45 minute match format and the mediocrity
associated with the preseason friendly, or even the virtually inconspicuous debut
of Goal Line Technology, this one left me smiling.
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| Those smiles aren't for the trophy as much as they are for beating Inter |
The match vs. Inter was great. Mancini did not hold back
with his lineups, but as usual, he did hold back whatever skills he thinks he has
a coach. So delicious to watch the student (even if he is also a friend)
eclipse the master in such a short time. Also so very delicious when Bacca
served up a great cross for Bertolacci in the 4th minute,
who took it on the volley, used a bounce, and made Handanovic pay. 1-0 Milan. But
even before the drool on our jerseys dried, Bacca wove
through traffic brilliantly and took a strike in the 22nd from
distance. And although it did take a slight deflection on Handanovic’ leg, it
had too much power and he could only helplessly watch it hit the back of his
net. Brilliant. 2-0 Milan.
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| Maybe he'll come good on that €20m after all |
Mancini did make a fateful change after conceding that
second goal, he brought on Brozovic for Hernanes in the 24th. Which is how
Inter pulled one back on us, Brozovic scored in the 31st. 2-1 Milan. As if that
wasn’t enough madness for a short 45 minutes, Alex got himself sent off in the
38th for politely stopping Icardi. My hat is off to him for keeping it polite,
because that vile snake is very hated, and it would have been easy to go all
Mexes on him. So with Alex seeing red, Mihajlovic sacrificed Honda and brought
on Romagnoli for his unofficial debut in the 39th. Almost immediately, he had this amazing goal line
clearance that saved Lopez and us, it was brilliant. Certainly enough
to fuel the imaginations of possibilities for our newest young hero with us
insatiable fans. But also enough to help us hold out and defeat Inter for the
second time this summer and earn the one hour rest break that winning the first
match affords. Did I mention beating Inter? While we were on ten men? Bravo, Ragazzi.
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| Feel free to give the glory to your god, Carlos, but if you don't mind, we're all just gonna worship you right now. |
Does it even matter what happened after that? Well, it was
awesome watching Sassuolo take down Inter 1-0, too. But beating Inter was the
only thing that mattered tonight, I bet the guys couldn’t wait to bring the
trophy on the train home for the ride home together…. hahahaha. I’d love to be
on that train. I hope Bacca sat next to Murillo to show him his player of the tournament award. And I hope Kondogbia is crying himself to sleep realizing the error of his ways after being punished twice by Milan before the season even starts.
However, we did play Sassuolo, and they put up a fight,
actually. Duncan scored in the 7th minute, and with our limp, sad, B team
playing their “I don’t care, I have a contract” game, it seemed that beating
Inter was the only thing that we were going to do today. But Suso was a demon,
determined to score despite the roadblocks called Cerci and Matri in front of
him, even if he got a little heated by the end. Our old pal Acerbi came on for
Sassuolo and made a great goal line clearance of his own, still looking to
impress the team of his heart, I think. Mihajlovic either got frustrated or
felt the need to give a few others some minutes, so brought on THE NOCE for
Mauri, Paletta for a very spastic Mexes, and De Sciglio for Antonelli, all in
the 24th.
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| Romagnoli showing Jovetic where the losers who play for Inter go |
Cerci, unable to make his mark on the game in a positive
way, spouted off to the ref and got a yellow for it in the 34th. It was a 45
minute match, you couldn’t stay quiet that long? Montolivo was deplorable,
nothing new, and Matri… I guess with a girlfriend like that, he thinks he
doesn’t need to score on the pitch? It was the usual, slow and playing just as
bad as last year, just like every other time Mihajlovic has fielded our second
choice squad. But what Sassuolo never saw coming was THE NOCE. That’s right,
Nocerino, back from Parma and not getting paid, wanted to show these entitled
girls how to win, so in the third minute of stoppage time, he
sent a classic Nocerino shot in to tie it up, 1-1. And that is how we
got to penalties.
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| Acerbi, are you better than a 16 year old? |
Two heroes with the penalties: Donnarumma and once again,
THE NOCE. Donnarumma, our 16 year old go-to guy for the penalties, saved both
Berardi and Acerbi’s penalties, even if he almost got to at least two others.
So even if Montolivo’s weak kick was also saved, Donnarumma’s saves were
decisive. But it was THE NOCE who put the nail in the coffin, sealing the deal
for the trophy with his penalty, the unexpected hero of our second choice team
that probably wasn’t expected to win.
And that is how we won our fifth Trofeo TIM. Our second in a
row. We took Inter out of the equation, the team that used to be able to last
45 minutes. Mihajlovic defeated his friend and mentor… again, he’s two for two
now. Whatever that may or may not mean for our season, depending on whether or
not you believe the curse, let’s focus just a little bit more on how we beat
Inter. Again. Because it may have seemed just a meaningless preseason non-FIFA-sanctioned
tournament, but anytime we play Inter, it always means so much more. And with
the Derby coming up early this season, it is particularly delicious to think of
the possibilities.
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| Dear Mancini, this is what a return on your investment looks like. |
If we keep fielding the likes of Montolivo, Cerci, Matri,
etc., we’ll keep getting what we got last year with that level of player. But
when we field our starting lineup, we have shown that we can hang with the
best. We can certainly defeat that expensive pile of talent Mancini keeps
locked away with his “tactics.” And beating Inter is one of the best, most
noble and divine things Milan or anyone can do in this world. That’s two Derby
wins this summer. Not bad for preseason mediocrity. Oh, and thanks for the
trophy, too.
This post inspired by the music of
Queen’s “We Are the Champions”
Our next match is
Coppa Italia Third Round
Milan vs. Perugia
Monday, August 17 • 21:00 CEST (3pm EDT)