Chapter 125 The Dignity of the Defending Champion

Apiano. The small town of Giantile is located between Milan and Como, Italy. It is originally unknown and famous for its Pinettina, the training base of Inter Milan, a strong team in the First Division.

The Pinettina base was built in 1962 by Moratti's father Angelo at the strong request of the then coach Herrera. Moratti funded the construction. But the purpose of building this base is only for training. There are no accommodation facilities at all, only training ground, gym and swimming pool.

In 1965, there was a small main building at the Pinettina base, but the problems of uncoordinated structure and imperfect functions of the base have been left behind.

The player's room at the Pinettina base is small and low in light. The only window is located near the roof, only the size of a palm, and the air conditioning system is a mess, cold in winter and hot in summer.

Before Mancini joined Inter Milan, the Blue and Black Club was used to letting the players sleep in the room of the Pinettina base before the home game, just like AC Milan. The closure of the base before the game can not only avoid external interference, but also save a lot of money.

It was Inter Milan coach Mancini who asked to stay in the hotel before the game, because he could not accept the reasonable and even simple facilities in the room of the Pinettina base.

Moratti took out a lot of money to let the team stay in five-star luxury hotels such as Milan Melia before the game, but recently the big boss of Inter Milan changed his mind. He can't stand to continue to bear this huge expenditure for the team. More importantly, the team stayed in a luxury hotel, not only did it not sleep better. , played better, but there were a lot of rumors related to external interference and disciplinary violations.

It is also a giant team in Milan, and it is impossible for the players not to compare internally. At AC Milan's Nello base, the player room is decorated according to the standards of a five-star hotel. The restaurant is elegant and warm, as well as a billiards room, wireless Internet access and other facilities. In almost all aspects, the Inter Milan Pinettina base is backward and outdated.

Mancini asked the team to stay in a hotel before the game, which was indeed caused by objective reasons. He would never do it carelessly. Moratti asked the team to return to the Pinettina base, a compromise condition for the redecoration of the base.

The decoration work began in March this year. The first phase of the project renovated six rooms on the top floor, including new doors and windows, lights, furniture, floors, wall painting, and LCD screen TVs, and was not completed until October.

However, Mancini will soon not be able to enjoy this good environment. Since taking over Zacheroni as the coach of Inter Milan on July 7, 2004, Mancini has been the most stable person in the position of Inter Milan in the past decade. It is not easy to play under Moratti for four seasons. Even handsome men like Cooper and Lippi can't.

At Inter Milan, Mancini completed a seemingly impossible task, leading the sinking Inter Milan to win the Serie A championship. While winning the league championship, Mancini, the "Italian cup professional" also helped Inter Milan win the Italian Cup in the 05/06 season, and In 2006, he won the Italian Super Cup, coaching a total of 227 games, 140 wins, 26 draws and 61 losses.

However, Mancini's Inter Milan is indeed a typical civil war insider and outsider. Under Mancini's coach, Inter Milan's best result in the Champions League is only the top eight, which is more than one level worse than AC Milan's sworn enemy in the same city.

This also became one of the triggers for Mancini's departure from Inter Milan. It was precisely because Inter Milan was eliminated by Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season, and Mancini said that he would leave Inter Milan after the game, and then evolved into the current situation.

However, Mancini had the upper hand in the direct confrontation between Inter Milan and AC Milan. He participated in a total of eight Milan derby matches in the league and achieved 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses, which reversed AC Milan's suppression of Inter Milan in the Milan derby.

However, Mancini did not have the upper hand in the Italian derby with Juventus and the direct confrontation with Rome. Especially in the last two seasons against Fiorentina, except for the first cycle of last season, in the absence of Degan, the away game against Fiorentina won, and Mancini lost all the remaining three games.

Just yesterday, the official website of Inter Milan officially announced that it would end its working relationship with the team's head coach Mancini after the end of this season. Although Mancini still appeared on the Pinettina training ground today, in fact, he has officially finished his class, just a reprieve. He still needs to Inter's head coach persisted in this position until the end of the season.

Inter Milan's official statement is very brief: "Inter Milan Football Club is sure that it will be exempted from Robert after the end of the season. Mr. Mancini's position as the head coach of the first team.

Two points can be confirmed about this statement: First, Mancini has been officially dismissed. Second, Inter Milan's official statement deliberately emphasized that Inter made the decision to dissign Mancini mainly because Mancini offered to resign after the Champions League.

However, this statement left two questions: First, does Inter want to put all the responsibility of Mancini off to escape the responsibility of breach of contract? You know, Mancini still has a four-year contract with Inter. In other words, this statement represents the Inter Milan team. Unimally terminated the contract.

Second, although Mancini announced his resignation through a press conference after the match with Liverpool, Inter Milan issued an official statement confirming Mancini's retention, and Mancini himself withdrew his previous statement. This means that Mancini's statement at the time of his resignation has no legal effect. Obviously, there are still great doubts if this is used to shirk the liability for breach of contract.

Of course, it is not ruled out that Inter Milan has reached a contractual agreement with Mancini, so such a statement is made as an official explanation for the dismission of the meritorious coach. So far, Mancini has not personally expressed his position on this. Previously, media reported that after Mancini left office, the successor to the position will be Portuguese Jose Mourinho.

Mancini coached Inter Milan in the summer of 2004. In his four-year coaching career so far, he has won two league titles for Inter Milan, one Italian Cup and one Italian Super Cup.

However, for four consecutive years, Mancini's team has not been able to achieve a breakthrough in the Champions Cup. Moreover, this season, the International Milan team under Mancini has frequently broken out locker room scandals, showing that Mancini has lost his due authority in the team. In addition, Mancini The conflict between Chini and Moratti intensified and irreconcilable, which was also the main reason for his dropout.

The news about Mancini's departure has been hyped since a long time ago. The person who will replace Mancini will be Muniario, and it was not a secret that this candidate was selected two years ago.

Although Inter Milan has still not indicated that the coach of next season is Mourinho, the news about Mourinho has reached the verge of explosion. Even the media has said which direct line the Portuguese are going to pull in or which player they are going to kick out.

The camera returned to Mancini, and the international reason for the dismissal was actually very far-fetched. After being eliminated from the Champions League, Moratti also retained Mancini.

However, some media revealed that Mancini had denounced Moratti and said that he must get five years of liquidated damages. Inter Milan's official reason for the dismissal is to remind Mancini. Don't forget that you proposed to resign at the beginning. Don't fantasize about the 48 million euros. That's impossible.

Mancini's withdrawal may eventually be within 20 million euros, which is still a huge cost. Although Inter Milan officially denied it, the reversal between Mancini and Moratti has become a fore. For Mancini, seizing every opportunity to obtain liquidated damages is the king, just as he desperately placed his cronies in Inter Milan.

Anyway, Mancini's dismissal is inevitable. Speaking of it, Mancini's dismissal is both wrong and reasonable. Achievements are always the first factor to measure a coach's success. If there is no achievement, there is no need to talk about.

Mancini started with winning the Coppa Italia and ended with two consecutive championships in Serie A. His team's performance is the most outstanding under Moratti's rule. It is reasonable that Moratti should not take him. But considering that the domestic competition in Italy is not fierce enough*: Berlusconi's investment in AC Milan, Juventus is greatly damaged by the phone, and such a championship will be discounted.

So, Mancini's breakthrough point should be in the European arena, but it happens that Mancini's performance is poor in the European arena. He has led the team for four years, and the team has stopped twice in the quarter-finals and twice in the 1/8 finals, which is not worth showing off in any case.

In particular, AC Milan's experience of reaching the final three times and holding the Big Ear Cup twice was compared, and Moratti's sense of loss doubled.

Especially this season, Moratti has said that the team's goal is to reach the Champions League final to celebrate the club's centenary. Unfortunately, in the end, all he saw was disappointment, which also became Mancini's headline crime after class.

Mancini was well-known in Serie A when he was a player. Because of his deranged personality, he has had opinions with many coaches. In those years, he was angry with Saki in the national team, and his anger leaving the team is clear. Over the years, the star player became a young coach, but his personality defects still brought him a lot of trouble. Because he is not smooth enough to deal with player relationships, the Italian media said that he lacks personality charm. In fact, the relationship between him and the famous players is also a little tense, not just Adriano, who was exiled.

When Liverpool was eliminated from the Champions League 1/8 final this season, Vieira deliberately dragged down and Figo even refused to play as a substitute in the game, which has interpreted this tense relationship to the extreme. It's normal for big-name players to be unconvinced, but there are so many like Inter Milan that they need to reflect. Mancini is obviously younger.

The tense relationship with the players has almost become synonymous with Mancini. The former blue-black king was exiled back to Brazil by Mancini this season, causing the blue-black front line to be very tight, and Adriano also recovered his lost shooting boots in his hometown and scored consecutive goals in the league and the Liberty Cup. Many people began to question it. Is Manjo's decision to exile Ade correct?

Or, under Mancini, Adriano may not be able to return to his previous state. Although Manjo also strongly denied that he was targeting Adda, it is undeniable that Adriano is a player that Moratti likes very much, and Adda has also admitted that Moratti is like his father. Although Ade's exile is mostly due to his own fault, and returning home on loan is also an official operation of Inter Milan, it is actually the best epitome of Manjo's poor management of big players.

And Figo. After transferring to Inter from Real Madrid, Figo has been fighting with head coach Mancini. This season, this struggle has developed to the extreme. In the 1/8 final between the Champions League and Liverpool, Figo even refused to play as a substitute in the game! Then he announced that if Mancini stayed, he would leave!

Because he often sits on the bench, Figo came up with the idea of going to Saudi Arabia for gold at the end of the season last year. After that, Figo had less playing time. Figo believes that the reduction of his playing time can be seen as the head coach's revenge.

And Mancini said that Figo should accept the super-replace role, which made the two of them like water. Figo and Moratti have a good personal relationship. It was with Moratti's persuasion that Figo gave up the idea of playing football in Saudi Arabia. Now, the Portuguese are already starting to look forward to the arrival of the madman.

Where there is conflict, of course, Ibrahimovic is also indispensable. The Swedish Scorpion is the absolute main force of the Mancini era and the hero of the Inter League. However, after hearing the news of coach Mancini's dismissal, Ibrahim expressed his support, "Anyway, this is the decision made by Moratti. Moratti is the chairman of the team. He must make a choice about it. I think his decision is correct."

Ibrahimovic and Mancini also had a constant conflict. In the 77th minute of the last round of the match between Inter and Cagliari, Ibrahimovic was replaced in advance. At that time, the Swedish scorpion was very dissatisfied with this and said something in his mouth. After Rome Sport invited lip experts to analyze it, he learned that Ibrahimović said, "I hope this Get out of here!" Now he can get what he wants.

At the same time, the conflict between Mancini and the club's management has not existed for a day or two. In terms of signing, the general manager Blanca and Mancini always can't think of it together. Blanca bought it, but Mancini didn't like it. Mancini wanted it, but Blanca couldn't get it, which made the two of them feel grudges.

For example, Suazzo was almost stolen by AC Milan when he transferred in the summer. At that time, Mancini tried his best to sarcast Branca's ability, saying that "the person who runs the transfer market is called Blanca, and there is also a chairman named Moratti. You should ask them what happened", but when Suazzo really came later, Mancini His use is too limited. In fact, it doesn't matter whether to buy Su Yazuo or not. The important thing is that this incident will make the battle between them known to the world.

In addition to the technical manager Blanca, the conflict between team doctor Kongbi and Mancini is also often exposed by the media, especially this season's long list of injuries has stretched the blue and black coach's platoon. Mancini previously said in front of reporters, "Now the players have recovered from injury than before. It's difficult, but it's not their problem. I think this is because our doctor level is lower than before," and Kongby's reply disclosed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, "In next season, Inter will either have a new coach or a new team doctor", which now proves to be an accurate prediction.

Mancini left and Mourinho took over. Rumors of the madman going to replace Manjo have been spreading this season. At that time, Mourinho also denied that he would go to Inter to coach. However, with the end of the season, Mourinho's contact with Inter became more and more frequent. In order to clear the way for the madman to enter the Blue and Black Army, Mancini Naturally, we have to give up first.

Many of the generals in the Inter team began to look forward to the arrival of the madman before Mancini officially announced the end of class, which invisibly put strong pressure on the club. It can be said that although Mourinho is not the main reason for Mancini's dismanence, it has also contributed to the flames.

In addition, Liverpool is also one of Mancini's bitter owners. This season, Inter Milan, who is full of longing for the Big Ear Cup, was eliminated by Liverpool in the 1/8 final. On the occasion of the centennial celebration, such a result is somewhat unacceptable. The UEFA Champions League is the heaviest trophy of the season, and Mancini also understands what it means for him to lose the Big Ear Cup. After all, Inter's foreign war laymen have left too many words over the years, so Manjo made the decision to resign after the game, which was also in the official statement of Inter Milan's dismissal of Mancini. Mentioned.

Roma is the second bitter master of Mancini. Inter had a chance to win the championship early in the league, but they were forced to go to the last round by Roma, which made old Moratti scared when he saw the ball. Although the Blues and Blacks finally defended their league title, Inter lost to Rome in the Coppa Italia, losing the chance to crown the double, which also became one of the reasons why Manjo was dismissed.

Having said so much, let's finally talk about Manjo himself. It is said that personality determines fate. Manjo has been a professional gambler who held high the offensive flag since his debut and has become an uncompromising protester. Mancini has always not handled the relationship with the big-name players in the same team very well, which also led to civil strife.

As early as 2006, the Italian media determined that Manjo was "fragile", and Mancini's general personality characteristics are basically less and more, but occasionally he seems to be less elegant, and some comments after the game often cause controversy.

Mancini's on-the-spot command is not enough, and the tactical system is not perfect. Interested media experts said bluntly that compared with Capello, Mancini still lacks some means. If you want to make a breakthrough, you have to make some sacrifices, but this is not an easy shackle for stubborn Mancini.

The so-called "frozen is not a day's cold" has no major breakthrough in the Champions League for four consecutive years, and the conflict with the players has also intensified. Coupled with the outbreak of trust crisis with Moratti, Mancini has lost his prestige as a head coach in this team, and this contradiction has become irreconcilable. At this point, it is inevitable after class.

However, Mancini's pride made him unable to escape halfway. Although almost everyone wants him to get out as soon as possible, Mancini is still stubborn to wait until the end of this season.

Moratti didn't say anything about Mancini's choice. Anyway, this season, the team is destined to be empty. The Coppa Italia was eliminated early, and the Champions League made the centennial celebration a joke. League?

It seems that Inter Milan still has a theoretical possibility, but this may only be said to be minimal.

As usual, Mancini arrived at the Pinettina training ground early in the morning, looking a little gloomy, but no one would understand his expression as the frustration of leaving. In fact, this man has always been paralyzed.

"Hello! Coach Mancini!" The doorman greeted Mancini.

Matchini didn't say anything, just nodded and walked in.

The doorman curled his lips disdainfully and muttered, "Continue your arrogance, and you will get out of here soon!"

It is not difficult to see from the attitude of the doorman that Mancini is really a failure. In Inter Milan, almost no one likes him, except for those cronies who were forced in by him.

On the cold training ground, Mancini is preparing as usual. It is difficult to imagine that a young commander will be as rigid as those old guys who are about to enter the ground. In Mancini's training, the players can't even deviate even a single step.

Some players arrived one after another. Some greeted Mancini, and some directly ignored his existence. At this time, they were not afraid of Mancini to give them small shoes.

"Look at that guy. I wish he could get out of here today!" Ibrahimovic sneered and his face was full of sarcasm.

Figo didn't say anything, but from his expression, he knew that he and Ibrahimovic had the same idea.

Some people expect Mancini to leave quickly, but some people don't want this day to come, such as Cesar, who is not the goalkeeper, but the guy who is almost scolded by international fans in the midfield.

When he came to Inter Milan, he took Mancini's back door. Now Mancini is leaving, and I guess his trip to the rich family should come to an end.

What the players are thinking, no matter how low Mancini's emotional intelligence is, they can guess. Seeing that the people are all here, Mancini still gathers all the players together as usual.

Looking at the players with different expressions, Mancini's heart feels a little cold. Although the relationship has not been good in the past four years, after all, he has brought several championship trophies to Inter Milan. Now it is a little unreasonable to receive such treatment.

"I think you all know!" Mancini looked very calm. At the last moment, he chose to be strong. "I'm leaving here. I think this is what most of you have been looking forward to!"

The crowd was a little**, and some players whispered.

"But my task here has not been completed. Until the end of this season, I am still the head coach of Inter Milan. I don't want to ease my relationship with you. The reason why I want to stick to it is because I want to confirm whether you guys still have the dignity of defending champions!"

Mancini paused, reorganized the language, and then said, "We haven't completely lost hope now. Of course, I know it's difficult, but as the defending champion of the league, we have the obligation to do something to let people see us. Last season's league champion was real!"

The players' eyes are full of doubt. They don't quite understand what Mancini means. They have played in the league and are 16 points behind. Only the madman will feel that Inter Milan has a chance to fight back from the Jedi.

"The result is no longer important to us now!" Mancini said to himself, "I have been proved to be a loser, but you still have a chance. In tomorrow's game, in Meacha, the holy place of Inter Milan, we will face Florence. This is your opportunity to prove yourself. If you defeat them, it will prove that you are different from me. You are in the international Milan still has value, but if it loses, it proves that I am not the only one who failed.

When the players heard the words, their eyes immediately changed.

After the draw with Cagliari, in fact, they have regarded the next airport game as an errand, and no one wants to waste their experience in meaningless games. Some of them have figured out where to go on vacation, and even think about how to do it when the new head coach comes. A new beginning.

But Mancini's words made them wake up a little. Mancini is right. The head coach's record is not good, so he can change places. And with Mancini's achievements at Inter Milan, he doesn't have to worry about finding a new job, but what about them?

Most of them will still continue here next season, and now, it is to buy themselves a good opportunity to get chips in the future.

It seems that they really shouldn't give up so early, at least they shouldn't think about how to deal with their errands!

Mancini felt the changes of the players and then said: "This season is doomed to be a failure for Inter. There is no league championship, no cup championship. Inter Milan's centennial celebration is messed up, but at least we still have the opportunity to prove courage to people. Now, with you The performance proves that you are at least more qualified than me to stay at Inter Milan!"

After Mancini said, he urged the assistant coach Mikhailovich and stepped aside. Mikhailovich greeted him and started the team training.

These days, because the team's position is shaken, and the Inter Milan team is also moved. However, after listening to Mancini's confession, they still decided to take it seriously, as Mancini said, at least let people see the dignity of their defending champion.