MILAN. The Italian champions return to the field. After two days of rest granted by Simone Inzaghi and his staff, Inter met yesterday at Appiano Gentile to prepare for Sunday’s match (12.30 pm) against Torino. The celebration on Monday night after the triumph in the derby is behind us, also because for Lautaro and his teammates there will be no shortage of opportunities to celebrate once again the conquest of the twentieth scudetto in Inter’s history. Meanwhile yesterday in Appiano we saw serene and smiling faces, with the players welcomed outside the Pinetina by many fans. Inside the sports centre, then, there was no lack of irony, from Lautaro who continued a gag linked to a dog which began during the celebrations, while Frattesi (who arrived in Appiano in the car with Asllani singing Pazza Inter) was keen to remind us that the correct number of championships is 20: «There are twenty, no mistakes». It sounds like a reference to the AC Milan fans’ banner displayed during the derby which spoke of 19 championships not counting the 2005-06 one, but also to the criticism, on the same topic, of many Juventus supporters.
The first appointment to return to celebrate the tricolor will be Sunday, after the match against the Granata. However, for Inzaghi’s men there is also the championship to conclude, with five matches to play in which space will probably be given to those who have played less in this long season. The only one certainly absent for the next match is Dumfries, sent off after the fight with Theo Hernandez in the derby, while Cuadrado was already on the bench in the derby and is recovered. But we will have to wait to understand what the coach’s choices will be for the next matches after having already achieved the objective. The Nerazzurri have no shortage of motivation, given that there are still many records potentially reachable from the number of goals conceded to matches without conceding a goal. Once Sunday’s match is over, the party will then begin for Lautaro and his teammates. Around 4pm, the Italian champions Inter will board the open-top bus: the route, 8 kilometers long and lasting around 4 hours, will take the team from San Siro to Piazza Duomo, also passing in front of the club headquarters in Viale della Liberazione . Given the more than likely slow pace, the parade could last 4/5 hours and the team should arrive around 8pm in Piazza Duomo.
Now the celebration for the scudetto, then the managers of Viale della Liberazione will resume contacts for contract renewals which have already been the subject of negotiations in recent months. Agreements to be extended, complete with economic adjustment, are those of Lautaro Martinez, Barella and Dumfries. In addition of course to Simone Inzaghi who deserves a separate discussion because his confirmation has already been “ordered” by president Steven Zhang.
Angelo Caradonna
