Champions League
The Milan semi-final was a negative advertisement for Serie A. Mostly thanks to AC
COMMENTARY: Everyone was looking forward to this being a big city battle that would show that derbies don’t usually have a favorite. But instead, Inter Milan’s two games with AC turned into a shootout of emotions that lacked added footballing value.
COMMENT: Everyone was looking forward to this being a big city battle that would show that derbies don’t usually have a favorite. But instead, Inter Milan’s two games with AC turned into a shootout of emotions that lacked added footballing value.
Serie A is far from the most popular European football competition. Fans around the world consider the Premier League to be the most prestigious league without a doubt, with La L<iga second thanks to the huge fan bases of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Just below Spain and England, Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga remain with similar fan bases. And in Italy, they suspected that Milan’s Champions League semifinal could be a big chance to bring new viewers to the domestic competition.
That’s no way to play for the final
After the opening 20 minutes, Italy were wringing their hands. Inter struck twice, crushed their opponents and the game had pace. But from then on, for three halves, virtually nothing happened. At least from AC, who have shown nothing for two games.
Three shots on target in almost 200 minutes is disgraceful, and AC were not better in one decent passage of the double. Inter played what they needed to play. And they played it well. But honestly, it wasn’t hard against a weak AC.
Simone Inzaghi clearly sensed AC’s woes when he fielded a Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrik Mkhitaryan midfield for the rematch. Still, AC were barely getting into the attack through the middle.
Artificial passions are not fun
Italian football is also characterized by a high dose of emotion and gesticulation. In this respect, neither team stayed behind tradition. Inter’s coach complained after the first meeting, his players subsequently seemed irritable at the start of the rematch.
AC gradually lost their nerve and confidence in the turnaround, some of the outbursts towards the referees were too much for the eye and certainly not the kind that would tempt the world’s spectators to watch Serie A from next season onwards. AC showed, with exaggeration, more energy towards the referee at the end than when attacking the Inter goal.
Source : Champions League
