The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 182 Two Battles with Purple Lily

After the brief joy of advancing to the Champions League semi-finals, the Inter Milan players did not feel the slightest relief.

That's because in two weeks, they will face another challenge from Barcelona at home.

Of course, before that, Inter Milan still has three games to play.

The opponents in the first two games were Fiorentina, but one was in the league and the other was in the Italian Cup.

Then just four days before the game against Barcelona, ​​Inter Milan had to play an Italian national derby against Juventus.

After returning to Milan after playing CSKA Moscow, Mourinho thoughtfully gave the Nerazzurri players, who had been under a lot of pressure recently, a half-day off.

Leo and the others can train again in the afternoon.

Entering April in Milan, the temperature gradually begins to warm up.

The warm sunshine is shining on the body, accompanied by soft music, and drinking a cup of hot coffee, the whole person is warm.

Leo sat alone in the coffee shop and took a sip. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee.

Watching the pedestrians coming and going, enjoying the rare leisure time.

"I want a hot chocolate!"

When Leo heard the voice, he turned around and saw a familiar figure. He looked down at the time on his phone, which was nine fifty-seven.

"If I remember correctly, my appointment with you was at nine o'clock, right?"

Balotelli actually knew he was embarrassed and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Slept over, not on purpose, hehe."

Leo shook his head and took another sip of his cappuccino.

"By the way, why did you two come together?"

"The road...we met on the road."

Leo looked at Balotelli and Thornton in front of him, shaking his head with a wry smile on his face.

"We had a lot of fun together last night, right?"

"Ah? No... no!"

"Okay, okay, I didn't ask you to talk about this. Let's all sit down and talk."

With these two brats, Leo didn't need to beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"During this period, your playing time is quite limited, so your life is very easy, right?"

There is no need to compete, a salary of tens of thousands of euros per week is earned every penny, and then running around after training every day is not appropriate for a fairy-like life.

"No," Thornton wanted to explain, "I wasn't injured some time ago..."

Leo waved his hand and didn't let him continue.

"Last season you both had a lot of chances to play.

At that time, it was partly because there was really no one available in the team, and partly because the head coach had great expectations for you.

This season, the team has strengthened in various positions, but this is not the reason why you have lost in the competition for playing time.

The main thing is because you have lost Mourinho's trust.

Your off-field scandals and on-field performance have all disappointed the head coach, making him no longer have any expectations for you.

Naturally, it will be difficult for you to get the chance to play again. I have never wanted to see this scene. "

Balotelli and Thornton looked at each other, speechless.

"Alas," Leo sighed.

"Perhaps in your opinion, training hard and playing seriously are not as important as having fun in time.

I can't convince you of this, just think it over for yourself.

Even if you still don't get many playing opportunities later this season, your strength will no longer improve or even continue to decline.

With his two years of experience at Inter Milan, it should not be a big problem to make a living until he retires.

It’s just such a pity…”

Leo didn't finish speaking. Bashen and Thornton didn't know what he regretted.

Is it a pity that the two of them failed to fulfill their talents and reach the expected heights, or is it a pity that the three of them cannot fight side by side.

After drinking the remaining coffee in the cup, Leo stood up.

"Let's go, it's almost time to go to the base. Where is your car parked?"

……

On April 4, Inter Milan went away to face Fiorentina in the 10rd round of Serie A.

Inter Milan has won the championship in advance, but head coach Mourinho hopes that the team can continue the momentum of victory, so he decided not to rotate and play with the main force!

Mourinho originally started the last Champions League match unchanged, but Kolarov accidentally strained his muscle during the warm-up before the game.

Chivu had to take over as the starting left back.

Viola is missing main players such as Vargas and Gambellini.

Italian coach Prandelli, who has coached for 500 games, put Gilardino on the bench, and Callison and Jovetic formed the striker.

Of course, he may also be playing in the second round of the Coppa Italia three days later.

The Nerazzurri, who were playing away from home at the beginning of the game, took the lead in launching an offensive.

Leo intercepted the opponent's clearance ball in front of the penalty area, passed Florence defender Kroldrup and then volleyed with his left foot!

The ball was lifted out of the right post by Viola goalkeeper Frey!

Then Leo took a corner kick on the right, Samuel's header hit the back point, and Milito's header hit the near post and popped out!

The goal post at the Stadio Franchi was a great contribution, otherwise Inter Milan would have taken the lead at the start.

Naturally, Florence's players will not allow their opponents to attack wantonly at their home court.

The home team counterattacked quickly, Santana made a pass from the right, Jovetic's header in front of the goal was lifted over the crossbar by Cesar!

Maicon passed from the right, Eto'o stopped the ball in front of the small penalty area and shot but Frey struggled to hit it out.

In the ninth minute, Eto'o passed the ball and moved forward. Pandev cut in from the left and volleyed with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area but was blocked by Eto'o!
  Two minutes later, Montolivo made an accurate pass to the right side of the penalty area, and Comoto's cross passed directly through Samuel's crotch to the middle!
  Callison easily pushed the ball into the empty goal with his right foot in front of the goal!    One to zero!

Florence takes the lead!
  The home fans were very excited, and they were happy enough to lead the league championship.

Leo noticed Montolivo's vague gaze looking towards him.

"No, why is this guy always staring at me? Doesn't he have some special hobby?"

Unable to help but shudder, Leo felt that he would have to stay away later and try to avoid physical contact with Montolivo.

He respects people with different orientations, but it cannot fall on him.

Of course, Florence's young Italian midfielder didn't know that his demonstration to Leo was misunderstood by the other party.

Then the home team continued to attack and almost expanded the score!

Jovetic cooperated with Santana in the middle to kick the wall, threw away the defensive player and broke into the left side of the penalty area. His left-footed shot was shoveled out of the baseline by Inter defender Samuel!

Godby took a corner kick from the left, and Natali headed the ball high in front of the goal.

This is not okay, we must give them some color.

Leo took the initiative to speed up. He dribbled the ball in the middle and changed direction to get rid of Boratti's marking and then sent a through ball!

A ground ball came from the right side of Maicon, and Milito pushed the ball into the net with his right foot in front of the goal!

One to one! Inter Milan equalized the score!

This is the Argentinian striker's 21st Serie A goal this season!
  Milito is only three goals short of his personal career record of 24 league goals in Genoa last season.

And what’s interesting is that their offensive line this time is almost exactly the same as Fiorentina’s previous goal.

After Inter Milan equalized, they continued to dominate the attack, hoping to reverse the score in one fell swoop.

Leo passed the ball diagonally, Milito passed the ball to the back point from the left, and Maicon's volley missed the target and missed the target.

Three minutes later, Cambiasso and Chivu successively tried long-range shots from outside the penalty area, but unfortunately they both missed the goal frame.

Montolivo also took a long shot, which hit the Inter Milan defender's legs and bounced off the baseline.

Viola took a corner kick from the right and Jovetic headed the goal!

Maicon made the first clearance but did not leave the penalty area. Jovetic turned his back to play the ball. Natali's left-footed low shot from the edge of the penalty area was confiscated by Cesar.

The two teams continued to attack, but they were far from scoring goals.

Three minutes into the first half of stoppage time, Leo passed two people in the middle and passed to the right.

Eto'o cut inside and shot with his left foot, and the ball went over the crossbar.

At halftime, Inter Milan temporarily tied with Fiorentina one to one away from home.

Chivu's performance in the first half was relatively average. Although it was excusable, Mourinho still replaced him with David Thornton.

In the second half, the two sides changed sides and fought again.

Montelive made a through ball, and Jovetic successfully countered offside and then caught the ball and slid out.

Thornton passed the ball from near the baseline on the left, and Milito's high-jumping header missed the post.

Subsequently, the home team also made substitutions, and Praland replaced Pascual with Felipe.

Fiorentina and Inter Milan once again got into a fight in the midfield, and the scene was quite ugly.

In the 62nd minute, Gilardino came on as a substitute for Callison.

Mourinho then made adjustments and Balotelli replaced Pandev.

Leo's previous heart-to-heart talk was effective. In the two or three days of training before this game, Balotelli and Thornton's training attitudes were obviously much better.

The condition of the two of them has also improved a lot. They must have been more restrained at night.

As long as the players are in good condition and have a correct attitude, Mourinho is still willing to give them a chance.

Bashen, who had just come on as a substitute, received a wonderful pass from Leo and shot a long shot from the top of the penalty area that went too far, drawing boos from the crowd.

Santana was replaced by De Silvestri, and the home team used up three substitutions.

In the 69th minute, De Silvestri counterattacked from the backcourt and broke into the right side of the penalty area to pick a pass. Jovetic volleyed back near the baseline!

Inter goalkeeper Cesar attacked and picked up the ball before Gilardino!
  Leo quickly launched a counterattack, ran 50 meters away and scored the ball. Balotelli made a pass from the right.

Eto'o outflanked the goal and knocked the ball into the far corner with his knee!

Two to one!

Inter Milan overtook the score!
  However, just one minute later, Fiorentina seized the opportunity of a corner kick.

Montolivo took a corner kick from the right, Cesar made a mistake, Gilardino blocked the ball to the back post with his body, and Claude Rupp easily swept into the empty goal unmarked!

The score was tied again at two to two!
  Carnival broke out in the stands at the Stadio Franchi, and they cheered and applauded the home team.

Leo:? ? ?
  Isn't this a tie? Why do they seem to have won?

Both teams still had a chance to win the game, so they further stepped up their offense.

In the 85th minute, Leo's pass from the front of the penalty area was sent to the gap on the left, and Balotelli turned and volleyed!
  Kroldrup flew down and hooked the ball back, and Leo easily stopped the ball from the penalty spot.

The Florence defender blinked and stood there stunned.

Faced with the big gift from his opponent, Leo could naturally accept it.

A precise push shot into the far corner, past the Viola goalkeeper and into the net!
  Three to two!
  The home team's center back Kroldrup worked hard to provide an own goal assist, helping Leo score easily!
  Inter Milan takes the lead again!

In the end, Mourinho's team won this tortuous game 3-2 on the road.

Three days later, still here, the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Inter Milan and Fiorentina continued at the Stadio Franchi.

"If you ask me, don't run back and forth, just stay here."

Of course, this is just Leo's thoughts as a player. If you think about it from the club's perspective, you won't feel this way.

If we really want to stay in Florence, the club will have to spend money to provide accommodation and food for the dozens of people in the team.

Then I have to find a place for the training venues for these two days.

So many things are troublesome and cost money. It is better to come back to Milan when the time comes. Anyway, the distance between the two places is not too far.

Two days flew by, and three days later the Nerazzurri once again came to the familiar Stadio Franchi.

(End of this chapter)