Chapter Eightieth

Chapter Eightieth

Degan didn't say anything further, and others didn't care too much, and Ancelotti didn't care much. In his heart, he wished Degan could leave immediately. Of course, that would only happen after the team got through the crisis of the striker.

Now, with Shevchenko injured, Ancelotti, who has no one available, can only pull Digan into his rotation.

Taking advantage of Juventus' draw, AC Milan narrowed the gap with the leaders in the standings to six points, rekindling Ancelotti's hopes.

In the first round of the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia in the next week, Degan was placed in the starting lineup for the first time after returning from injury.

In this game, Ancelotti only used four main players. Amoruso also played for AC Milan for the first time, partnering with Digan as a striker, Vogel as a midfielder, and Jankulovski also got a chance to play. .

AC Milan's lineup: goalkeeper Karachi, defensive line Simic, Nesta, Costacurta, Karadze, midfielder Gattuso, Vogel, Jankulovski, Rui Costa, forward line Deegan partnered with Amoruso.

Palermo sent a 4-4-2: goalkeeper Andujar, defense Zaccardo, Barzagli, Biala, Grosso, midfielder Mariano. Gonzalez, Barone, Bonanni, Santana, Gordias and Di Michele on the forward line.

After the opening game, probably because of the cold weather, the players on both sides couldn't let go of their hands and feet. The two teams formed a stalemate and it was difficult to attack the opponent's goal.

In the tenth minute, Rui Costa made a direct pass to the left side of the penalty area, but Amoruso who responded was judged offside first.

Two minutes later, Santana volleyed from outside the penalty area and missed the right post.

In the 18th minute, Jankulovski also took a long shot from outside the penalty area. Argentine goalkeeper Andujar held out the right post with his fingertips. Milan took a tactical corner kick. Gattuso made a cross from the right. His header went wide of the left post.

Degan didn't feel very good today. This patchwork starting lineup made it difficult for him to get enough support. When he retreated to the middle to respond, Amoruso, who was in front, It is also difficult to bring enough threats to the opponent's defense.

Now this Palermo team, although a Luca is gone. Tony, but the overall strength can still rank in the middle and upper reaches of the Serie A league, relying on their steel defense line. Among this defense line, Zacardo, Barzagli, and Grosso are all members of the Italian national team led by Lippi The members, especially the Italian left-back who made Huang Daxian convulse, have excellent offensive and defensive abilities. Simic suffered a lot from Gattuso who was facing him.

In the 20th minute, Degan suddenly pulled to the left, and Rui Costa immediately passed the ball. After Degan got the ball, he used his speed to force Zacardo and then made a low pass from the left. Rui Costa slapped him However, the cold shot with his right foot was thrown out of the bottom line by the quick-reacting Andujar.

In the 28th minute, after Palermo's corner kick was destroyed, Grosso made a cross from the left, and Biawa headed the ball 7 meters in front of the goal.

The two sides, who had gradually moved their bodies, engaged in an offensive battle on the field.

In the 33rd minute, Amoruso seldom took the ball on the left side of the front court, but when he broke through, he was cut off by the opponent.

The Coppa Italia is not the main goal of AC Milan this season, which can be seen from the lineup, but the appearance of Amoruso added a new meaning to the match between AC Milan and Palermo. In San Siro, the 31-year-old Brazilian who joined AC Milan half a month ago ushered in his debut.

After leaving Sao Paulo, which was still scorching under the red sun, Amoruso was obviously uncomfortable in the cold Italy. His whole body was tightly wrapped, with gloves, a collar, and a long sleeve inside the jersey. Even so, Amoruso is still relatively slow to enter the state.

In the second minute of the opening, Amoruso had his first touch with the ball. After receiving a pass from Rui Costa, he widened the ball and was intercepted by the opponent. Four minutes later, Amoruso thought on the left touchline. Picking the ball is extraordinary, but the rhythm is too slow, and the ball was lost under the double-teaming of three opponents. After that, Rui Costa passed the ball again. Amoruso made a mistake in stopping the ball. It can be said that in his debut, Amoruso got off to a terrible start.

In the 44th minute, Simic kicked the ball with his left foot from the right, and Degan shook his head in front of the goal, but the angle was too positive and was confiscated by Andujar. However, Degan didn't seem too frustrated, and now he is enjoying the game with a peaceful mind, just like Fiore said, not forcing anything, just trying to grasp the opportunities that suddenly come to him.

In the second half, Ancelotti replaced Gattuso with Pirlo. In the 55th minute, Rui Costa made a wonderful pass from the right rib. Diganca leaned on Barzagli in the penalty area and passed the ball to A Moluso, unfortunately, the Brazilian veteran's right foot shot was confiscated by Andujar.

Although Ancelotti didn't value the Coppa Italia, he didn't want to lose just like that. Afterwards, he continued to strengthen his offense. Serginho replaced Karadze, but the situation in Milan did not change, and then Kaka also came off the bench.

Just when the game was about to end in a draw, in the 87th minute, AC Milan intercepted the ball in the backcourt and counterattacked quickly. Kaka took the ball from the left sideline of the frontcourt and accelerated past Biala. When he was about to reach the bottom line, he made a low cross with his left foot. , Degan rushed to the goal, 5 meters in front of the goal, the instep of the right foot pushed the top of the goal, AC Milan broke the deadlock 1:0.

This score was also continued until the end of the game. Although Degan scored a goal, his performance throughout the game obviously cannot be compared with that before the injury.

However, his performance was not eye-catching enough, but it was not Degan's fault. In fact, he didn't get many opportunities throughout the game, especially his striker partner was too weak.

Judging from the progress of the game, Amoruso is indeed no longer the top scorer in Serie A and Bundesliga. The super strong dribbling forward and the juggling ability to get rid of in the penalty area are gone now. The problem is that the frequency of movements is much slower than in the past, so that he is easily marked to death when he hits the penalty area. He didn't even have a decent shot in the whole game.

However, Amoruso's ball skills are still excellent. When he didn't get too many opportunities in the frontcourt, he frequently returned to the midfield to take the ball and transition, and his attitude was also very positive. During the game, Zacardo and Acar played on the left sideline. Di's double-teaming, and the heel pass before the end of the first half, are the highlights of Amoruso's game.

Ancelotti commented after the game: "Amoruso is still recovering. In fact, after the World Club Cup, he has not really played a game. He still needs two weeks to recover. However, even if it is In the current state, his technology is still a wealth."

Amoruso also commented on his debut: "My debut should have been worse. After a few days of preparation, it was not easy to play for 90 minutes. I played better in the first half and a little tired in the second half. Yes, I hope my state can improve in the future. My teammates will help me. Rui Rui and Ricardo are both excellent players. I am very happy to cooperate with them. And Degan, he The speed is unimaginable. These 90 minutes are very important for me to understand the position on the court. In the past year in Sao Paulo, my position was a little further back, but I don't think there is any problem if I go forward. The only thing I need to do now is get my fitness back."

Having said that, Ancelotti is already satisfied with Amoruso's performance in this state. The head coach of AC Milan commented after the game: "He hasn't found the rhythm of the game, but his way Good ball control, I didn't want him to play the full 90 minutes, but Rui Costa had an ankle injury, I had to replace him, Amoruso is a smart player, he found his position very quickly , his running is different, all he lacks now is a little bit of speed."

In addition, another problem with Amoruso is that he is still relatively unfamiliar with his teammates. In the second half, he played for Digan once and once Digan played for him. Both of them died because they did not form a tacit understanding. Solved over time in training, Amoruso has a positive attitude, has excellent technique, his characteristics are more in tune with AC Milan than Vieri's, and more importantly, he knows himself very well" The positioning of "substitute striker" and the salary at the bottom, it should be said that compared with Vieri, Amoruso is a more suitable candidate for AC Milan's striker.

In this game, Ancelotti's substitution was also praised after the game. When the game was delayed, Ancelotti replaced Kaka. Fifteen minutes later, his assist gave AC Milan a valuable home victory.

At that time, AC Milan intercepted the ball in the backcourt, Kaka took the ball and dribbled forward. With a low pass to the goal, Degan shoots from close range with the instep of his right foot.

Why did the game change so much after Kaka replaced Rui Costa?

Ancelotti's substitution strategy proved to be correct, which Degan also admitted, but this does not mean that Kaka must be so much better than Rui Costa in terms of ability. The player's state is one aspect. After the game, Ancelotti revealed that Rui Costa's ankle injury affected his performance. In addition, the characteristics of the players on the field are also one aspect.

After the game, Ancelotti explained: "Kaka's presence gave the team the extra speed that we lacked. In that goal, he was decisive."

In fact, as Ancelotti said, in the first 72 minutes of the game, the most important factor that AC Milan lacked was speed. To be more specific, it was the change of rhythm. It is the feeling of controlling the ball, but this is also determined by the player's own characteristics.

Today's frontcourt trident configuration is Degan, Rui Costa, and Amoruso. In this configuration, there is a lack of factors that can directly attack the opponent's defense line. Degan's body has not yet returned to the best condition. Today's Most of the time in the game, one person is in the front, holding the ball with his back, unable to attack the opponent's defense head-on. Rui Costa's specialty is not to break through with the ball from the front, and now he is affected by an ankle injury. There may be such a penetrating breakthrough. Amoruso used to have a strong breakthrough ability, but on the one hand, it is affected by age. Suo tried twice to break through and failed, so he retreated more to control and distribute the ball. The two free kicks in the front court were also made when he got rid of others laterally.

Under such circumstances, AC Milan could not pass a breakthrough, and an impact disrupted the opponent's defense line. Only Degan head-on in the penalty area, relying on others to turn around and hit the goal forcibly, Jankulovski and Ruy Costa shot from a long distance, and the opportunities to create are limited after all. In AC Milan's ball-handling style of play, there must be a player who can break through and change the rhythm of the field.

If Degan is at his best, he can fully take on this responsibility. He can run long distances like Kaka, and even do better. The team brings unexpected benefits.

Inzaghi can also take on this responsibility. Although he can't dribble or make a surprise attack, he can make an impact. Through his own diligence and fighting, he can turn the ball that his teammates have not passed into an opportunity. In addition, if he is on the court , Rui Costa's ball lines will be more.

In fact, Ancelotti also revealed after the game that he originally wanted to replace Amoruso with Inzaghi instead of Rui Costa with Kaka, but the effect is the same.

Regarding Digan's goal, Ancelotti and the media reporters collectively ignored it. Perhaps in their view, it would be worthless if anyone could score that goal. Degan looked a little dull, not at all like the crazy man who scored a hat-trick in three minutes and blasted 13 goals in one game.

In Ancelotti's plan, Degan's role is nothing more than a transitional figure during Shevchenko's injury. After the end of this season, he plans to force the club. He and Degan, the team can only leave one.

However, whether Digan will leave is still pending. Shevchenko, who is deeply loved by Ancelotti, has been involved in scandals after the winter break. This season, Shevchenko has retreated and still gives AC Milan Contributed 17 goals and 7 assists in various competitions. Just now in the selection of the best player in Eastern Europe, Sheva was elected the best again with an absolute advantage. Although he will be 30 years old in 8 months, Sheva Chenko's state is still in full swing.

Last summer, Abramovich's attractive bid almost brought Shevchenko to Stamford Bridge, but in the end the Ukrainian chose to stay, but this did not make Abramovich give up. "Newspaper" revealed that after half a year of silence, Chelsea finally made an offer to AC Milan: 60 million euros, transfer in the summer of 2006, 30-year-old Shevchenko, a huge offer, Galliani, Which one will Berlusconi choose?

"Sports Post" stated that Abramovich is still dissatisfied with the current status of Chelsea's striker. He will definitely bring a big-name striker to Stamford Bridge this summer. At the same time, he also sent the same offer to Barcelona, ​​to consult them about the possibility of acquiring Eto'o.

Of course, if what "Sports Post" said is true, then it is more likely that Barcelona will be released. "Daily Sports" said yesterday that Barcelona and Henry had reached a verbal agreement on the transfer. In the World Cup, Arsenal was eliminated by the newly promoted Wigan Athletic at their home court. It is difficult for such a team to give Henry, who is eager for the championship, any hope.

On the other hand, since last summer rejected Chelsea's bid of as much as 80 million euros and lost the so-called "best time" to sell Shevchenko, instead of accepting the offer of 60 million euros this summer, it is better to keep Shevchenko. Vchenko played the remaining heat.

But this does not mean that AC Milan's striker has stopped updating. The headline of "Football Market" today is "Torres is available for sale, AC Milan is ready to act".

Gilardino can hardly satisfy Berlusconi, Amoruso is obviously just a player who saves the field, Inzaghi is getting old, Shevchenko and Chelsea are constantly rumored, Degan and Ancelo Digan is in the same situation, and in the two games after his comeback, although he contributed one goal and two assists, Degan's state has obviously dropped a lot compared to before. AC Milan's transformation of the striker seems to be even worse. Make a big move in the summer.

Atlético de Madrid also publicly announced before that Torres is no longer "not for sale", which was revealed by Atletico Madrid's chairman Cerezo in an interview with the Spanish TV station "Rondo".

"I will evaluate any request for Torres, like any other player. It is a choice I have to make as president of the club. Of course I have not received an offer so far. If I did, I would consider it. "

The official statement of the Atletico Madrid club immediately aroused a response, and Torres' agent responded immediately: "Torres is only loyal to Atletico Madrid, and he will do his best for the revival of Atletico Madrid."

However, Torres has always been a key point in AC Milan's long-term plan. In addition to AC Milan, Chelsea and Barcelona are also paying attention to this young man. Cerezo's speech will definitely cause some disturbance in the transfer market .

Degan, who was also involved, also said in an interview with reporters later: "I don't know if I will stay, but now it seems that this hope is not great. If the club wants me to leave, I will not refuse." , Milan has never been my home, and here, I have never been treated fairly, maybe leaving will benefit both parties!"