Apennines on a swing

Everything comes to those who can wait

Is there a club in the world similar to Inter? Or better: is there a club in the world that looks like Inter? !! Overcome the ridicule of ill-wishers and years of spectacular setbacks stuck in 13 championship titles “Nerazzurri” could only because of the scandal. “Modjigate” became a kind of impulse for the club, giving it a scudetto and ruining the offseason to rivals.

For the first time in many years, the Milanese managed to seriously strengthen themselves in the summer and lose ballast. Largely - thanks to informed decisions by the owner Massimo Moratti. As a result, Inter hits both its own and other people's records. He recently reached 11 consecutive wins and became the second team in the history of the Calcio by the number of points scored before the winter holidays.

The results and a really cool black and blue game helped their talented coach Roberto Mancini to give up their dreams of working in England. Moratti joyfully extended the contract with him for another two seasons. The separation from the pursuers is growing steadily. All potential competitors (including Roma) were beaten by Inter on the road. Moratti's money bag is regularly replenished. All of the above convinces us that the renaissance of the pretty "nerazzurri" will continue. But Nostradamus would not undertake to make long-term predictions in relation to Inter.

Sicilian phenomenon

In just a few years, an island of the Italian south created a paradise for fans on a separate, once deprived of big football. The undisputed leaders of the unofficial Sicilian standings walks “Palermo”. He confidently holds a prestigious third position in the league. In August, it was hard to imagine that the club, which had shuffled the squad, would immediately achieve such results and at the same time it would show an attractive game.

A dizzying third line, the team should cherish. When, at once, the two ever-present grandees of Serie A will find themselves in unusual roles: Juventus in indecent league, Milan in unusually low tabular positions?

Alongside the old Palermo leaders, like Korini, new ones such as Amauri began to play. And please ─ 9 points ahead of fourth place. If the team does not fall into the physical, psychological or any other hole, then the dream of Maurizio Zamparini and his black and pink company about the Champions League, will finally come true.

Surprise presented and more than a modest “Catania”. A club from the city at the foot of Mount Etna put on the attack and did not lose. Heavy forwards Corona and Spinesi (by the way, the club’s largest purchase of half a million pounds) really took part in the sharp take-off of the team, scoring two-thirds of its goals. When the Sicilian "elephants" had a hard time, the veteran Pantanelli stood at the last frontier. But hope for something more than a temporary approach to the top, “Catania” is not necessary. The coach and the president of the club have already announced the goal: 40 points needed to extend the tale for another season.

Additional motivation

“Regina”, punished by the scandal along with the strongest, it would seem, felt the chill of series B before the start of the season. In addition, after several appeals, the already powerful clubs received concessions, and this modest woman undertook to eliminate the handicap solely by her efforts.

And in this southerner, now going ahead of their record of 44 points per season, they have succeeded. And here, as if as a gift for Christmas, they also received 4 penalty points. And now the club caught up with Parma on points. Based on the schedules of the basement neighbors, Walter Mazzari's team has a good chance of completing the season with the author of a useful obstacle course in the strongest division. If this happens, then one of the main characters of the "action" will be finally fired by Rolando Bianchi.

Sorrows

Retreat Season

As a result of Mozhdigeyta, the Italian League gained a number of disadvantageous features. The departure of “Juve” for a walk in the second division strikingly coincided with the natural decline of “Milan”. In fact, this left the rival of Inter only the Nerazzurri themselves. More than ever, the gap in the class of club Italian teams has manifested itself. The separation of the trio of leaders from the peloton does not match the status of one of the strongest European championships. Minus penalties sharpened competition in the middle and lower parts of the table. That is why in the next Eurocup draw there is a high probability of repeating the history of the Verona “Chievo”, which at one time was not useful either in the Champions League or even in the UEFA Cup. Given the ongoing interruptions in providing finance for the restoration of Serie A, precious time will be required. But it could have been spent with great benefit.

Diabolical crisis

If one club in Milan is on the rise, the other, which has long surprised at the constancy of the results and composition, has finally exhausted the possibilities of the current selection of players and a coach. Despite the fact that the summer scandal bit off the “Milan” 8 points, the team of Berlusconi insisted on participating in the champion race. But the toothless attack and constant rotation in the defense led to an indecent separation from the first place. With the departure of many-year-old scorer Shevchenko, the attack of the “devils” simply begged for replenishment. And not about what they eventually implemented. While Gilardino took an unusually long turn, the defenders scored goals with a creak. And in the areas of their responsibility, meanwhile, problems also became apparent: the recession of the highly reliable Nesta, the critical age of the entire line, problems with goalkeepers. It turned out that the team, like the Brazilian national team in Germany, was dragged by Kaka.

And yet, thanks to the utter tabular tightness at “Milan” there is plenty of time to improve and be, if not on the podium, then in the Champions League.

The fall of the emperor

The most talented Adriano, who only recently knew how to do everything on the field, lost at first psychological, and then all other conditions that could be lost. Hardly anyone will say with certainty what are the main reasons for the disgusting form of the Brazilian from Inter. Now not only black and blue typhosies, but even fans of Milan rivals rivals are worrying about the heavily forward striker. The club tried all the means and medicines right up to the vacation at home in high season.

An indicator of the crisis was a nine-month drought, recently softened by Adri’s tears after a goal scored from the nth attempt of “Atalante”. Now the fans of Nerazzurri have the hope that the decline that began just after last year's winter vacation will end with the resumption of the current vacation.

Stanislav POPOVICH

TOURNAMENT TABLE

NOTES. 1. The indicators of “Milan”, “Lazio”, “Regina” and “Fiorentina” take into account the fines imposed on the basis of “mujigate”. Lazio has 3 points in liabilities, Milan - 8, Regina - 11 and Fiorentina - 15. 2. Siena is fined one point for delaying tax payments on players' salaries.

SNIPERS : Totti (Roma) - 12, Spinesi (Catania) - 11, Mutu (Fiorentina) - 10, Rigano (Messina), Cuagliarella (Sampdoria), R. Bianchi (Regina), Tony (Fiorentina) - 9 each.