Chapter 325: A Difficult Start
The Inter Milan players walked out of the dressing room in high spirits and walked side by side with the Juventus players onto the players' tunnel and onto the pitch. During this period, there was no communication.
Even if there are acquaintances, they will not talk at this time, and everyone is brewing murderous intent.
After winning the treble, most of the remaining Inter Milan players have significantly reduced their desire to win this season.
In some of the games, it was clear to Ricardo that his team-mates were no longer hungry for victory.
But in today's game, they regained their fighting spirit, all for this special match.
In the North Stand, a huge TIFO with a golden background painted on the top half of Ricardo in a blue and black jersey with the words "His Royal Highness the Prince" appeared.
RICCARDO'S VISION WAS OCCUPIED BY THIS TIFO, AND HIS HEART WAS EXCITED. Before the game, the Nerazzurri Milan fan group had told him that they would surprise him in this game.
He didn't expect the so-called surprise to be this.
This means that he has been completely recognized, accepted and adored by the fans of Inter Milan.
Although it is not yet possible to completely replace Ronaldo's position in their minds, it is at least recognized as Ronaldo's heir.
Compared to Adriano, who is so quick and agile, Ricardo has scored 13 goals and assisted seven goals in 19 league appearances this season, and his more consistent performance is clearly more favored by the fans.
The stands were crowded, and it was estimated that Meacha was full. Among the more than 70,000 Inter Milan fans, there are thousands of Juventus fans.
The blue-black ocean, mixed with a little zebra stripes, is like a lone sail on the vast sea, which will sink at any time in the wind and rain.
The fans chanted "Solo l'Inter" in unison.
"The words of lawyer Prisco still echo in my head"
"He said Serie A is in our genes"
"We will never steal champions"
"I will never be relegated to the second division!"
The singing is sonorous and the power is condensed above the field, making every player who hears this song enthusiastic.
Inter Milan's starting goalkeeper today is still Cesar, Zanetti switched to left-back today, and right-back is McConn, which is a signal to strengthen the wide attack. The two centre-backs were Cordoba and Samoel, a centre-back duo that would have suffered against Juventus' tall centre-forwards, but Materazzi was injured and had to make that choice.
In midfield were Cambiasso, Veron and Stankovic, with Veron appearing in the midfield position. It took Pizarro half a season to settle into the team, and Mancini has gradually lost faith in him. In the key battle, Veron was still dispatched.
Although Veron does not give passes to Ricardo and Adriano, Mancini values Veron's ability to manage and control the tempo in midfield, and the forward passes are mainly completed by Ricardo and Figo, the core of the wide playmaker.
The front trident Adriano, Ricardo and Figo all played.
With this squad, Mancini dares to say that he can beat everything.
Juventus on the opposite side really didn't have a neat lineup. In goal, Gianluigi Buffon is back in the middle of the line, with Thuram and Cannavaro in central defence, but the left wing-back is the youngster Chiellini who has been brought in this season, and the right-back is Barzaretti.
But if you want to say what Ricardo says, Chiellini is really better than Zebina. However, Barzaretti is indeed inferior to Zambrotta.
In midfield and forwards, Juventus remain the same as they were last time they played Inter Milan.
Looking at the two high school strikers, Ibrahimovic and Trezeguet, Ricardo was really worried about his own backline.
Juventus didn't need to do anything else, just hoisted the ball and hung it in the penalty area, which was enough for Inter Milan to drink a pot.
After the two sides lined up, took pictures, guessed the edges, etc., at 20:30 in the evening, Inter Milan kicked off, and the game officially began.
At the beginning, Ricardo wanted to play a fast attack with Adriano, but the ball passed to Adriano and was pushed out by Thuram. Juventus organized the attack, and after a few passes, was cut off by Zanetti when he was about to take the ball on the wing, and Zanetti launched a counterattack with a big foot.
Adriano defends the ball in the middle and hands it to Ricardo, who is plugged in at high speed along the left.
Ricardo strode the ball past Balzaretti and into the box.
Many Inter Milan fans have not yet sat down, and some are looking for seats, and when they saw Inter Milan playing a sharp counterattack, they immediately held their breath, for fear that their breathing would be too heavy and affect Licardo's performance.
Ricardo came to the front of the penalty area, facing the blocked Thuram, Licardo slowed down slightly and stepped on several bicycles in a row, but the old and spicy Thuram was not moved at all, just slowly retreated, and did not forget to block Ricardo's shooting route on the way back.
Ricardo didn't want to dwell too much with him and suddenly handed the ball to Adriano in the middle.
Adriano didn't delay and slashed the ball, while Ricardo used his speed to shake Thuram off the ground and catch the ball in the box. He wanted to shoot right away, but Thuram reacted quickly and leaned in with his body immediately, putting a lot of pressure on Ricardo.
Ricardo simply took another shot, ready to use his speed to shake Thuram off a bit before shooting.
As he caught up with the ball and was about to kick up, a figure in a zebra-striped jersey burst out of the spur, a fierce tackle.
That foot first tripped over Ricardo's ankle and then kicked the ball into the ball, shoveling it off the line.
Ricardo rose into the air, slammed heavily on the ground, and rolled a few times.
When he stopped rolling, the whistle sounded hesitantly, and Paparesta pointed to the corner flag. He awarded Inter a corner.
Ricardo lay on the ground, his hands outstretched, looking incredulous. Adriano, Cambiasso, Figo and others rushed over to complain, believing that Chiellini, who tackled, had committed a foul and should have been awarded a penalty.
Ricardo also wanted to talk to Paparesta and said, but he had a sharp pain in his ankle, and he could only cover his foot with one hand, and apply to the Inter Milan coach box with the other hand to ask for the team doctor to enter.
Inter Milan's team doctor hurried in to examine Ricardo.
During this period, the Inter Milan players have been negotiating with Paparesta, but Paparesta has been very resolute.
The Inter players are gradually dispersing, and it is still early, so their mentality is still relatively relaxed. If this was the case near the end of the game, they wouldn't have been so calm.
Ricardo received simple off-field treatment and returned to the court. There was nothing wrong with his ankle, and the team doctor said it was okay to finish the game.
Ricardo restarted the game with some frustration. He had a new appreciation for how difficult the game was.
This Paparesta is in, and Inter Milan want to win unless they can crush their opponents and win without dispute.