Inter Milan defeated Lazio 2-0 at home, and successfully advanced to the 20072008 Coppa Italia final with a total score of 8-2 in the two legs.
However, after the game. Li Ang did not praise the team's performance. Instead, he flew into a rage in the locker room and scolded the entire team.
"How do you think you played?"
"Say something, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Nineteen shots in the game. You only kicked four shots within the goalpost range! "Li Ang was furious." Well, four shots were on target, and two goals were scored!!! Don't you guys feel proud? "
"… Gentlemen! Do you really think you're invincible?! Lazio was unlucky today. Otherwise, you'd be crying in the end. "
"Be alert! All of you, be more alert! The season is not over yet. It's not the time to talk about rewards and enjoy holidays and drinks while lying on the merit book!!! "
The group of players was silenced by Li Ang's words. They also knew that their performance in this game was very average. The manager was right, because they underestimated Lazio a little too much when they faced them. They thought that if they won 6-2 in the away game, it would be easy to take down the opponent at home. Therefore, they obviously did not raise their spirits.
Li Ang looked at this group of players. He also knew that with the 6-2 score in the away game in the first leg and Inter Milan's current dominance in Italy, the players would inevitably underestimate the opponent. After all, the players were living people. They would have thoughts, be alert, be proud, be complacent, or be distracted. There was no way around it. The players were adults with flesh and blood, not puppets in his hands.
However, he still hoped that his words would have an effect. The principle that an arrogant army is bound to be defeated did not only appear in textbooks and storybooks. This was worthy of everyone's warning!!!
"I don't want to see a similar situation like today again." Li Ang's face was serious. "There are two finals. We can't afford to lose the finals. If we win, we'll complete our merit and become a part of the great history. If we lose, everything is over and we'll become a laughing stock!!!"
Li Ang left the locker room with these words.
*****
The group of players looked at each other. They still did not quite understand. Even if they had underestimated their opponents, they had still won the game and successfully advanced to the final of the Coppa Italia. The manager did not seem to have to be so angry, right? Since the start of the season, it could be said that everyone had been performing very well. It wasn't a big deal to occasionally lose one or two matches, right?
Of course, there were still some players who had a certain understanding and recognition of this. They knew that what Li Ang valued most was the team's spirit and willpower. The team could lose, but they must have the backbone to fight to the end. Similarly, he also hated the sloppy attitude of underestimating the enemy, because sloppy attitude was a slow-acting poison. Once this kind of attitude was developed, the team would have a great hidden danger. Once this hidden danger erupted in a crucial game, it would be very fatal.
Later, as the captain and flag bearer of the team, Javier Zanetti called for a meeting with the whole team. He communicated his understanding of the matter to everyone.
"We've entered the most crucial stage of the season. We still have two finals to play. Needless to say, we all know the importance of these two games." Zanetti's expression was serious. "The manager's strict requirements are for our own good. I don't think anyone wants us to lose the important championship trophy because of our own reasons!"
"That's right. The manager has good intentions. We have to understand." Materazzi also stood up to speak. The old Italian national footballer was very convinced by Li Ang. At the same time, after Li Ang eliminated the Argentine Barbecue Gang in its embryonic form, he also deliberately raised Materazzi's position in Inter Milan. This also made Materazzi's position in the Inter Milan locker room higher than it had been in history.
Later, a meeting and communication was held in the Inter Milan locker room. The whole team also consolidated their thoughts and expressed that they would go all out to prepare for the rest of the season.
As the captain, Javier Zanetti also reported the players' determination and attitude to Li Ang to reassure the manager.
In fact, in the whole team, only Zanetti understood an important reason behind Li Ang's fury. Li Ang wanted to lead the team to win the Grand Slam. He did not want to have any regrets in his coaching career at Inter Milan. He wanted to create a great history with everyone.
As the captain of Inter Milan, Zanetti, the Argentine veteran, also intended to do his best to help Li Ang and put a perfect end to this master-apprentice relationship.
*****
Three days later, the 37th round of the 20072008 Serie A season, which was also the penultimate round of the season, was played.
Inter Milan's home ground VS Siena.
When the main referee, Rizzoli, blew the whistle at the end of the game, the entire Meazza Stadium was filled with thunderous applause and cheers.
Because Inter Milan's last round of the league tournament would be a guest at Parma, the game against Siena was Inter Milan's last home game of the season. The fans released all their enthusiasm.
What's more, Inter Milan also won a big victory in this game. The electronic scoreboard at the Meazza Stadium showed the final score: Inter Milan 6: 0 Siena.
Inter Milan, who had made a certain amount of changes, beat Siena at home with six goals. Diego Milito scored a hat-trick, Adriano also scored a goal, the veteran Javier Zanetti scored a penalty kick, and the opponent also scored an own goal. Inter Milan used a hearty victory to put a perfect end to the last home game of the 20072008 season.
After the game, the team captain, Javier Zanetti, took the initiative to come over and hug the manager, Li Ang. In the whole team, he was the only one who knew the special meaning of this game for the manager. This would be the manager's last game at the Meazza Stadium. It was a pity that there was no grand farewell ceremony for this great manager.
Zanetti also knew that before this, the club's owner, Moratti, had specially looked for Li Ang to communicate with him. They proposed to announce Li Ang's departure at the end of the season in advance and hold a grand farewell and thank you ceremony for Li Ang in this game.
Although Li Ang was touched, he still declined Moratti's kindness. He did not want to affect the team's mentality and preparation for the game. Moratti was a very emotional boss. Sometimes, he was a little capricious because of his emotions. However, Li Ang was still more rational at critical moments after being touched by Moratti's kindness.
"I worked hard with everyone at Inter Milan to win this trophy. This is the best farewell gift and commemoration!" Li Ang said to Moratti. The latter was very touched by this and was filled with emotion.
At this moment, amidst the cheers and applause from the stands at the Meazza Stadium, Li Ang stood on the sidelines in a trench coat and waved to the stands …
Goodbye, Meazza.
Goodbye …
Goodbye …
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