Chapter 348: Mancini Lost Again!

March 22nd, afternoon, Meazza Stadium in Milan.

Mancini, dressed sharply in a neatly tailored suit, stood silently in front of the coach's bench. His face was solemn, his gaze fixed on the field.

Inter Milan's crucial home game against Juventus had not yet begun, but the atmosphere was already tense.

Under Ranieri's leadership, Juventus stuck to their standard 4-4-2 formation, but the starting lineup had been adjusted significantly.

Goalkeeper: Buffon.

Defenders: Molinaro, Chiellini, Legrottaglie, Grygera.

Midfielders: Nedvěd, Mohamed Sissoko, Camoranesi, Salihamidžić.

Forwards: Del Piero and Trezeguet.

Ranieri had made bold tactical adjustments for the night. Even before the whistle blew, some of his changes could be discerned from the positioning of the Juventus players.

The first notable change was Camoranesi, who had been moved from his usual right-wing role to a central midfield position a significant departure from the norm.

The second adjustment was the repositioning of Del Piero. Traditionally, Del Piero's most effective and threatening area is the left side, both inside and outside the penalty box known as the "Del Piero Zone." That's where he typically operates. But tonight, his position had shifted to the right side of Trezeguet.

This was unexpected, and Mancini, standing on the sidelines, was visibly concerned. Was Ranieri genuinely deploying these tactics? Or was it just a decoy?

Mancini had made his own adjustments as well, surprising many by switching to a 4-3-1-2 formation, a setup Inter often used in the Champions League for its stability and reliability. But tonight, Mancini added his own twist.

Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar.

Defenders: Maxwell, Materazzi, Burdisso, Maicon.

Midfielders: Chivu, Stankovic, Zanetti, with Luis Jiménez playing in front of them.

Forwards: Cruz and Ibrahimović.

Two key changes stood out.

First, Stankovic was placed centrally in the midfield trio to utilize his passing and playmaking abilities.

Second, Mancini started 23-year-old Chilean midfielder Luis Jiménez in the attacking midfield role.

Jiménez, despite his young age, was an experienced player in Serie A, having spent six years in Italian football. After impressing in Serie B for four years, he made the Chilean national team and caught the eye of several big clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid. However, due to high transfer demands, deals with Fiorentina and Lazio fell through, and Inter Milan eventually secured him on loan in the summer of 2007.

This season, Jiménez had played more than 20 matches for Inter Milan. In December, he delivered an impressive streak of three consecutive starts, contributing two goals and an assist, proving his potential as a key player. Notably, in matches where Jiménez participated whether as a starter or substitute Inter had only lost once: a home game against Liverpool where he played just six minutes.

As Inter faced criticism for their lack of creativity, especially following Gao Shen's public remarks, Mancini hoped to use Jiménez's skillset to prove his doubters wrong.

He was determined to secure a victory tonight, to silence his critics and shove their words back in their faces.

---

With referee Farina's whistle, the match officially began.

Inter Milan launched an aggressive attack straight from kickoff. Just nine seconds in, Maicon delivered a cross from the right, and Cruz met it with a header in front of goal. The ball went just wide.

Moments later, Stankovic played a lofted through ball over the top. Ibrahimović, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, went one-on-one with Buffon, but the Juventus goalkeeper made a brilliant save.

Ranieri responded boldly, instructing his Juventus players to play offensively rather than sitting back to defend.

The result was an exciting back-and-forth battle, with both sides trading attacks.

By the tenth minute, Jiménez had begun to dictate the tempo for Inter. The Chilean midfielder frequently created opportunities, forcing Juventus defenders like Grygera and Sissoko to commit fouls to stop him.

In the 18th minute, Jiménez delivered a pinpoint free kick into the box. Burdisso flicked it on, and Stankovic's header rattled the crossbar.

Juventus quickly launched a counterattack in response.

---

As the game unfolded, the tactical strategies of both teams became increasingly clear.

Mancini's 4-3-1-2 setup aimed to enhance midfield creativity and passing precision. Stankovic, playing deeper, was tasked with orchestrating the play, while Jiménez, though labeled as an attacking midfielder often dropped back to collect the ball and organize attacks.

Inter's two forwards, Cruz and Ibrahimović, pulled Juventus's defenders wide, creating gaps in the center of the penalty area for their midfielders to exploit.

On the other hand, Ranieri's adjustments were equally noteworthy. Moving Camoranesi into the midfield gave Juventus more creativity and dribbling ability in the center, while Sissoko focused on defensive duties.

Del Piero's unusual positioning on the right allowed Pavel Nedvěd to dominate the left side of the pitch. Left-back Molinaro frequently pushed forward to support attacks, creating consistent threats for Inter's defense.

Both coaches had meticulously prepared their strategies, making for an entertaining and tactical battle.

Despite their efforts, neither team managed to break the deadlock in the first half. The closest chance came from Stankovic's header off the crossbar.

---

The second half began with Juventus on the offensive.

In the 49th minute, Molinaro delivered a long pass from the left. Grygera controlled the ball at the edge of the penalty area and passed it to Camoranesi, who surged into the box and slotted the ball past Julio Cesar.

1-0 to Juventus!

Three minutes later, Jiménez almost equalized for Inter with an inswinging corner kick that Buffon barely managed to tip over the crossbar.

Mancini, feeling the pressure, substituted Jiménez with Suazo to strengthen the attack. But he soon regretted the decision.

---

Shortly after, Ibrahimović expertly brought down a long ball and backheeled it to Suazo, who fired a wild shot high over the bar.

Mancini clenched his fists in frustration, he knew he had made a mistake.

In his desperation, he had replaced Jiménez, who had been Inter's most creative and threatening player on the pitch. Now, with Jiménez gone, Inter's midfield was struggling.

Cruz and Ibrahimović were both underperforming, showing little energy or determination, even as the team trailed. Meanwhile, Chivu and Zanetti, who had worked tirelessly in the first half, were beginning to show signs of exhaustion.

Just as Mancini was berating himself for his hasty decision, Juventus struck again.

In the 61st minute, Camoranesi dribbled through the midfield and played a precise through ball to Del Piero. The Juventus captain cleverly flicked it into Trezeguet's path, and the French striker volleyed it into the net.

2-0 to Juventus!

---

"Damn it!" Mancini cursed loudly on the sidelines, wishing he could undo his earlier decision.

His players were exhausted, his tactics were crumbling, and his substitutions had backfired.

"Substitute!" he shouted, desperate to salvage the game.

---

By the 65th minute, Mancini had replaced Cruz with Maniche, reverting to Inter's familiar 4-3-1-2 formation. Stankovic moved up as the attacking midfielder, while Suazo partnered Ibrahimović up front.

But the damage had already been done.

In the 80th minute, Mancini brought on a fresh-faced Balotelli to replace the fatigued Chivu. The young striker immediately made an impact, delivering a cross to Maicon, who assisted Maniche for a close-range goal.

Inter had pulled one back—2-1!

In stoppage time, Inter nearly equalized. Stankovic's clever pass set up Maniche in front of goal, but his shot hit the post.

The final whistle blew.

---

Deafening boos filled the Meazza Stadium, accompanied by insults and jeers from the angry home fans.

Mancini had lost again.

After losing 5-0 to Napoli earlier, this 2-1 defeat to Juventus at home was another devastating blow to Inter Milan's title hopes.

Standing by the dugout, Mancini endured the fury of the fans and the weight of his own mistakes.

He knew what awaited him after the game, a media storm of criticism and scorn.

Under Gao Shen's relentless psychological warfare, Inter's confidence had crumbled, and the pressure had only continued to mount.

"Damn that bastard!" Mancini muttered bitterly, cursing Gao Shen under his breath.

Behind him, assistant coach Mihajlović exchanged knowing looks with the other staff members. They all understood who Mancini was blaming for his predicament.

"That damned kid's words hit us too hard," Mancini growled.

Desperate and humiliated, the once-arrogant Mancini was now clinging to a slim hope: that relegation-threatened Reggina could somehow hold Napoli to a draw at home.

This, from the proud and defiant Mancini, was nothing short of ironic.

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