Chapter 73 Return
Although there are continuous injuries, AC Milan has indeed been winning. After a 2:1 victory over Palermo, in the ninth round of the league, AC Milan visited Castellani Stadium and defeated Empoli 3:1, winning six consecutive victories in the league.
In the case of conceding a goal first, Gilardino scored twice to overtake the score. Since then, Vieri has also scored his first goal since joining AC Milan. In the standings, AC Milan continues to maintain a three-point gap with Juventus, which has won 9 rounds.
After the game, Ancelotti also said excitedly: "Milan is normal now. We are now on the right path. No one can stop us from moving forward. Girardino and Vieri's goals are at the right time!"
Maybe Ancelotti has another meaning. Since these strikers are in good condition at present, Degan, who is still recovering from his wounds in Belgium, naturally doesn't need it.
In the tenth round of the league competition after, AC Milan unexpectedly defeated its opponent 3:1 at San Siro Stadium in the face-to-face competition with their rival Juventus, achieving a seven-game winning streak in the league, and ending the opponent's nine-game winning streak after the beginning of the new season, tying the opponent in the scoreboard, and net The advantage of winning the ball regains the top position.
AC Milan's lineup is not complete in this game. Nesta and Shevchenko continue to be absent, and Gattuso has also been rotated due to physical problems. Even before the start of the game, no one is optimistic that AC Milan can defeat Juventus, but football is round and anything can happen.
In the first half, Cannavaro and Buffon, one of the top stars in their respective positions, gave big gifts one after another. Sedorf, Kaka and Pirlo went to three cities in a row. AC Milan unbelievably won a three-ball lead in the first half. Although Juventus' offensive was very fierce, it was only by Tre Zegai scored a comforting goal.
After defeating Juventus, Ancelotti said arrogantly in an interview with reporters after the game: "The season has just begun, and we will continue the victory until the end of the season!"
In the next eleventh round of the league, AC Milan did continue their victory, as Ancelotti said, defeating Udinese 5:1, winning eight times in a row, and still occupying the top of the league.
Gilardino scored twice in the game, breaking the home goal shortage since the transfer. This season, the number of goals in the league has increased to 6, surpassing Shevchenko in the second place in AC Milan. Seedorf, Pirlo and Kaka each went to the next city, and Inzaghi made two assists as a substitute.
Gilardino is in good condition, and the happiest thing is Ancelotti. As long as the striker player in his hand can maintain stable scoring efficiency, even if Degan comes, he can have an excuse not to use it.
But there is a word in this world called joy and sorrow, and Ancelotti is like this.
In the twelfth round of the league, AC Milan challenged Fiorenze. In the first half, Fiorentina's leading striker Tony opened the record, and then Girardino tied the ball, and AC Milan immediately took the initiative on the field. But at the beginning of the second half, Fiorentina's quick counterattack, Jogenson The shot exceeded the score. Since then, Milan's old player Brochi's handball in the penalty area, but escaped the penalty. Gilardino's header into the net was invalidated. Before the end of the game, Tony scored twice since then, scoring 15 goals this season, ranking second only to Degan's 21 goals on the scorer list.
"We are not very lucky in this game, but we also need to see the positive side. Giladino has scored again. He has been in excellent condition recently. I believe he will continue, and Shevchenko can return to the next round of the league, and we will return. Get on the right track!"
Ancelotti vowed to be full of confidence in the team, but in the Champions League match in the middle of the week, they lost again, losing 0:1 to Eindhoven. His substitution in the game was questioned again.
AC Milan, which suffered two consecutive defeats, recovered in the subsequent thirteenth round of the league. Lecce, who narrowed the gap with Juventus, who drew in this round, narrowed to two points.
In the first half, Pirlo's free kick, but in the second half, AC Milan's defensive highball error was tied, and until the fourth minute of the stoppage time, Inzaghi, who came on as a substitute, scored a winning goal.
Then, in the Champions League in the middle of the week, AC Milan defeated Fenerbahce 4-0 away, quickly reversing the decline.
In the 14th round of the league, AC Milan, who had just returned to form, lost 1:2 away to Chievo and suffered the second defeat in the last three rounds.
Kaladze opened the record, but Chievo then equalized in the first half of stoppage time. In the second half, Tiripboki, who played as a substitute for less than two minutes, scored a winning goal.
In a subsequent key game, Juventus defeated Fiorentina away and expanded the lead to 5 points.
When this round of Serie A ended, Degan also completed the first stage of treatment and returned to Italy. Next, he will continue to receive restorative treatment in Milanello. As for the question of when he can pay, it is not only his injury, but also Ancelotti.
In the 15th round of the league, AC Milan and Inter Milan staged the Milan derby. After Digan was injured, he also appeared in the stands for the first time.
This game was the 263rd Milan derby. There was no accident in the start of the two sides. Karaze replaced the injured Maldini, Shevchenko put on the captain's armband for the first time in the derby, and Nesta also returned from injury.
After the opening, the two sides did not even test the process and directly entered the state of fierce battle. In the second minute of the game, Carlazer and Martins competed for the top, and the left eyebrow bone was hit by Martins' elbow. After processing, Carlazer returned to the field and set a tone for this fierce battle in advance.
In the seventh point, Stankovic received a short pass from Beron and volleyed 18 meters in front of the goal.
Just a minute later, Stankovic made a cross from the right, and Martins followed in time, but did not go in the right direction.
In the 12th minute, Martins made a cross from the bottom of the left, Adriano stopped the ball on his chest, and his left foot hooked high.
At the beginning of the game, Inter Milan had an advantage on the field.
Milan's first shot did not come until the 13th minute. Kaka's right rib broke through and was knocked down by Cordoba. The referee directly showed a yellow card. Pirlo took a free kick and passed it to the penalty area. Stam pushed the header to the bottom of the ball at the defender, and Cesar picked the ball.
In the 17th minute, Inter Milan intercepted the ball in the backcourt and launched a quick counterattack. Adriano cut across the right side to get rid of Carallaze and missed a low shot with his left foot.
In the 23rd minute, there was a sudden accident in the game. Cambiaso passed the ball, Martins forcibly broke into the penalty area and drilled through the clamp between Stam and Nesta. Martins' hand made Nesta fall to the ground and touch the ball with his left arm. The referee blew a penalty kick. Adriano operated the knife and left foot With a strong volley into the lower right corner, Inter took the lead 1:0.
In the 28th minute, Samuel tripped Shevchenko, AC Milan got a free kick 19 meters in front of the goal, and Shevchenko sprinted for a long distance with his right foot and was blocked by the wall.
In the 32nd minute, Beron made a corner kick on the left side, and Gattuso headed the ball back near the bottom line, almost sending the ball to the opponent's feet. A minute later, Figo broke through his left rib and missed the far post with his left foot.
In the 37th minute, Gilardino tripped over Cordoba, Pirlo hit the wall with a free kick, and the referee whistled again and took a penalty.
From the slow mirror, Kambiasso pushed the ball to Stanković's left hand, and Shevchenko pushed his right foot into the lower right corner, 1:1.
At the end of the half, the two sides drew 1:1. In the second half, they changed sides and fought again. In the third minute, Stam made a cross from the right, and Gilardino's header missed the far post. A minute later, AC Milan got a good opportunity to fight against the super. Gilardino passed Favali, Samuel and Cordova on the right side and pushed the ball to Shevchenko, who received it at the front point. Shevchenko pushed the shot with his left foot, but the ball was blocked by Sanetti because of the slippery foot.
As the game became more and more intense, the movements of the two anti-players on the court became bigger and bigger. Kaka broke through in the middle, and Belon had a move behind him. The two immediately had friction. The referee played 50 boards each and one yellow card.
In the 59th minute of the game, Adriano forcibly broke through and fell to the ground. His personal free kick crossed the wall and went straight to the lower right corner. Dida saved the ball. Martins quickly caught up and scored with his right foot in the lower left corner in front of the goal. Inter led 2:1 again.
AC Milan, who fell behind, then launched a crazy counterattack. First, Gattuso rarely passed the cross from the right side, and Sanetti grabbed the bottom line in front of Shevchenko. After that, Pirlo's long-range shot was confiscated by Cesar, and Kaka's right foot on the left side volleyed vigorously, and the ball was hit by the far post by Cordoba's header and popped off the sideline.
Then Ancelotti replaced Gilardino with Vieri, who still played at Inter last season, and booed everywhere on the court.
In the 80th minute, Vieri leaned on Samuel and knocked horizontally. Kaka got the ball and shot vigorously. The ball hit Cordoba's leg with an arc and deflected from the far post.
In the 83rd minute, AC Milan, who kept attacking, finally equalized the score. Peron fouled Pirlo. Pirlo made a free kick on the right side. Stam jumped high and hit the header into the lower right corner, 2:2!
Then Mancini replaced Martins with super substitute Cruz. In the 87th minute, Cruz, who had just played, received Peron's corner kick and headed the ball back. Adriano followed and headed the ball back, 3:2!
In the end, with Adriano's final victory, Inter Milan defeated AC Milan 3-2. At the same time, they overtook their opponents in the table and rose to the second seat. The leader continued to win, and the gap with AC Milan has widened to 8 points.
After losing the derby, people once again pointed the finger at Ancelotti, but Ancelotti did not lose, but refused to accept: "There is no problem with the game itself, and the players also played very well, but today's luck is not on our side."
It seems that it was specially designed to verify Ancelotti's words, and then AC Milan ushered in a three-game winning streak, first in the 16th round of the league.
AC Milan beat Messina 4-0 at home, continuing the record of home victory this season and stopping the momentum of two consecutive defeats, narrowing the gap with Juventus to 5 points.
captain Shevchenko scored twice. Before the end of the game, Pirlo scored his fourth free kick of the season, and Gilardino scored the eighth goal in the league this season.
In the 17th round of the league after, AC Milan won 3-0 away to Vono, ending the opponent's unbeaten record at home. Giladino scored twice and scored 10 goals in the league this season, rising to fourth in the scorer list. Shevchenko scored a goal before the end of the game and fixed the score at 3:0.
In the 18th round of the league, AC Milan narrowly defeated Parma 4:3 at home, surpassing Inter Milan and ranking second in the table, 5 points behind Juventus.
In the first half, Dida made a mistake and gave the opponent a goal first, but Parma captain Caldone immediately made an own goal, and Gilardino and Kaka's goal expanded the score to 3:1. In the second half, Shevchenko went to the next city, Parma scored twice by Markioni, and AC Milan scored three points as if walking on thin ice.
After winning three consecutive victories, Ancelotti's courage suddenly became a little more: "I said, we have no problem now. The players are in excellent condition, especially the forward players. Shevchenko's state has always been stable, and Giladino has also recovered his original state in Palma. Inzaghi, I am very Knowing him, he is also familiar with his current position in Milan, and he also welcomes this benign competition.
Gilardino's state is indeed excellent. In the last three rounds, he has scored four goals. Although he is not as good as Digan in terms of the number of goals, he can win in continuity. Now no one compare him with Vieri. Some media even said that with Gilardino, Milan no longer needs Di Gan!
Don't Milan need Degan anymore?
At least in Ancelotti's eyes, this is true. After three months of absence due to injury, Degan has begun to train with the whole team and has shown a good state in training, but unfortunately it was selectively ignored by Ancelotti.
Even after defeating Parma, Ancelotti said on the phone with Galliani that he does not interrupt the change of the main lineup at present, and Degan has become a dispensable person under him. If possible, he even hopes to loan Degan to stay in shape.
And Galliani rarely didn't say anything this time.
However, Digan finally failed to leave. On the contrary, another person on the front line left. In the position of Shevchenko was unshakable, Gilardino began to break out, and Inzaghi also began to score goals. Vieri, who could not get a chance to play, had no choice but to leave sadly.