Inter Milan's head coach, Li Ang, stayed behind to talk to Adriano after the end of that day's training. Then, someone saw Adriano leave with red eyes about half an hour later. During that time, someone heard Adriano's heart-wrenching cries coming from Li Ang's office …
This was really a story that made people think.
This news was quietly spread by a certain gossiper. Perhaps it was just gossip by a bored person, but Inter Milan's Pinenati Training Base was a place where many media outlets were keeping a close eye on. How could the paparazzi miss such explosive news?
Soon, the news that Adriano was "made" to cry by Li Ang was known throughout Italy.
Corriere dello Sport's report was, "Adriano's attitude during training was not correct and he was severely reprimanded by Li Ang. The Brazilian was actually scolded to the point of crying."
La Repubblica's report was, "Adriano's contract renewal with Inter Milan has reached a deadlock. Li Ang and Adriano met in person and the two sides had a fierce quarrel. Li Ang's harsh remarks made Adriano cry bitterly and hurt his heart."
Turin Sport's report was even more explosive. The newspaper said that Li Ang and Adriano had a fierce conflict. Inter Milan's head coach insulted Adriano with outrageous and humiliating remarks. It was seriously suspected that the two men had also had a physical altercation.
Milan Sport's report was that Li Ang and Adriano might have had a quarrel and that Adriano was very sad for some reason.
Even Italy's famous gay media outlet, Men's World, expressed serious concern about this matter.
That night, the news began to ferment. Although the major Italian media outlets reported different situations, one thing was certain: Inter Milan's head coach, Li Ang, and their Brazilian star player, Adriano, had a serious conflict. As for whether it was a verbal or physical altercation, it was unknown.
*****
The next day, the atmosphere at the Pinenatti training ground was a little depressing. The players were whispering to each other. They had all seen the media report. Some of the players believed it without a doubt. They knew manager Li Ang's character. Adriano was not a good boy either. The two of them could really have a heated argument. As for the report of Adriano crying, they suspected that it was made up by the media.
This matter seemed to cast a shadow over the entire team.
The harmony and unity of the team was crucial to a team. No one wanted to see problems within the team.
What made them even more worried was that it was almost time for the start of training, but the head coach, Li Ang, had not arrived yet, and the other person involved, Adriano, had not shown up either.
Assistant Coach Banderas kept looking at his watch. He looked a little restless.
At the same time, in the underground parking lot of Pinenati, Li Ang was talking to Adriano in a low voice.
Every time Li Ang said something, Adriano nodded.
Then, about five minutes later, Li Ang appeared on the training ground. He looked at the players with different expressions and said, "Ribeiro is not feeling well. He took a leave of absence and will not be able to participate in today's training."
Hearing this, the players' expressions changed. Sure enough, it looked like the news was true. The coach really had a conflict with Adriano …
The players were talking among themselves.
"Be quiet." Li Ang's expression changed. "I'm not in a good mood today. So, be more serious during training."
Hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately became serious. Looking at the coach's dark expression, they did not dare to be careless. The head coach had said that he was not in a good mood. Who would dare to be unlucky?
At the same time, at the entrance of the Pinenatti training ground, many reporters were carrying their cameras. They saw with their own eyes Adriano drive out of the gate in his Ferrari sports car. His face was expressionless as he honked wildly. Then, he stepped on the accelerator and left.
Oh my!
Something big is going to happen!
The media reporters were excited. Inter Milan's current state was too fierce. Their rivals for the championship naturally saw them as a thorn in their side. Li Ang's relationship with the media was as bad as ever. These people had been waiting to see Inter Milan make fun of themselves. Internal strife in Inter Milan? This was truly a joyous occasion!
*****
That morning, photos of Adriano driving out of Pinenatti appeared in the media.
"Internal strife in Inter Milan!"
"Li Ang and Adriano completely break up?!"
"Adriano leaves the team in anger?!"
"Aftermath of the quarrel! Conflict escalates?! "
Although Inter Milan later released news that Adriano was absent from the morning's training because he was not feeling well, the media reporters did not buy it.
Not feeling well?!
Who are you kidding?!
He could come to Pinenatti and leave angrily. How could he be feeling unwell?
For a while, news about the fierce conflict between the Inter Milan manager and the team's Brazilian star player, Adriano, and the near-breaking of their relationship, filled the Italian media.
The news even immediately spread to the European continent.
Marca, which had a deep grudge with Li Ang, could not wait to shout, "This will happen sooner or later. He is an impolite tyrant. The players will rise up against him sooner or later. Adriano is the first, but he will definitely not be the last!"
The people in Madrid were very happy. They had a deep hatred for Li Ang and liked to see Li Ang get into trouble.
The turmoil caused by this incident was not small. Even Inter Milan's boss, Massimo Moratti, personally called Li Ang to ask about it. It was not known what Li Ang said to the team's boss. After Massimo Moratti made the call, he no longer asked about the matter. When asked by the media about his views on the matter, Massimo Moratti solemnly stated that there was no problem between Li Ang and Adriano …
Inter Milan's next league game was an away game against Fiorentina. That afternoon, the whole team gathered in Pinenatti and took the bus to Fiorentina.
The reporters noticed that Adriano did not drive to Pinenatti until the team was about to leave. Then he got on the bus with no expression on his face …
Li Ang stood at the door of the bus with a straight face and watched Adriano get on the bus. During the whole process, the two men did not exchange any words. This seemed to inadvertently "expose" the fact that the two men had a bad relationship.
*****
Inter Milan's opponent in this round of the league was Fiorentina.
Fiorentina was currently ranked third in the league, two points ahead of the fourth-ranked AC Milan, nine points behind the second-ranked Juventus, and twelve points behind the league leader Inter Milan.
Fiorentina had always said that their goal was to get into the top six of the league and qualify for the European competition next season. Even though they were currently ranked in the top four of the league, they still announced it to the public.
However, within Fiorentina, from the manager Prandelli to the players, they were all burning with passion. Their goal was not even to get into the top four of the league. Their goal was to get into the top three of the league and directly qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
As for the league title, although Prandelli and Fiorentina might have a little bit of hope in their hearts, they also knew that it was very, very difficult for Fiorentina.
However, even if there was only a small chance, the Fiorentina people wanted to work hard. Starting from Batistuta's time in Fiorentina, the league title had become the ultimate dream of the Fiorentina people.
They were willing to put in the greatest effort for even a little bit of hope!
And now, the Fiorentina people had a good opportunity.
In this round of the league, they would be facing the league leader Inter Milan at home. If they could win this game, Fiorentina would be able to narrow the gap with Inter Milan to nine points …
In particular, in the first round of the first half of the league, Fiorentina defeated Inter Milan by a score of 2: 1 in the away game. After the game, from the Inter Milan manager Li Ang to their players and their fans, they all talked about the referee's enforcement of the law. They said that Inter Milan lost to the referee, and there was a lack of respect for Fiorentina in their words. There were quite a lot of negative remarks, which also made Fiorentina hold their breath and vow to beat Inter Milan at home again! Make Inter Milan shut up!
*****
The Fiorentina manager, Prandelli, was well aware of the current strength of Inter Milan, so he attached great importance to the game against Inter Milan at home. He knew that this would be a tough battle. If they won, Fiorentina still had a glimmer of hope to dream about the championship title. If they lost, they would completely extinguish that glimmer of hope and could only settle for the second best, which was currently in the top four of the league.
And at this time, there was news of the infighting between the Inter Milan manager, Li Ang, and their Brazilian star player, Adriano.
This made Prandelli very happy.
Although Adriano was not in a good state now and fell into a lack of goals, even if Adriano was in the starting lineup, his power was not as strong as before.
However, Inter Milan's infighting was not simply a matter of Li Ang and Adriano's conflict. This would greatly affect the stability of Inter Milan's locker room.
For Li Ang, a young manager who was in charge of a powerhouse club for the first time, the Adriano incident was likely to affect his control of Inter Milan and the prestige of the locker room.
In short, on the eve of such a crucial game, the infighting in the Inter Milan locker room was the best news for Fiorentina.
At the pre-match press conference between Inter Milan and Fiorentina, the reporters asked Inter Milan manager, Li Ang, about the conflict between him and Adriano.
Li Ang naturally denied it. He emphasized that his relationship with all the players was very good. Inter Milan was very united and everything was fine now.
The reporters curled their lips. They concluded that there was a problem in the Inter Milan locker room because of this incident. Otherwise, why would he specifically emphasize that the team was very united?!
Prandelli saw all of this in his eyes. He felt that he seemed to see a trace of panic in the eyes of the Chinese manager …
On February 8, 2006, before the start of the game between Inter Milan and Fiorentina, a game in another venue of this round of the league had already ended.
Juventus, the home team of the Bianconeri, was unexpectedly forced into a 1-1 draw with Parma, which was in the relegation zone of the league. It was a big upset.
This made Fiorentina extremely excited. Prandelli was even more delighted. In this way, if Fiorentina could take down Inter Milan at home in the upcoming game, not only would they be able to reduce the gap with the leader, Inter Milan, to nine points, but they would also be able to reduce the gap with Juventus, which was ranked ahead of them, to seven points!
There were still fourteen rounds of the league. The gap between nine points and seven points was still a big gap for Fiorentina, but it was no longer so illusory.
This game would be the most important game of the season for Fiorentina, and it might even be the most important game in Fiorentina's history.
Prandelli and Fiorentina, with their unknown ambitions!
Prandelli was very excited and looking forward to it.
Li Ang was also very happy. He did not expect Parma to successfully stop Juventus in this round of the league. In this way, if Inter Milan took down Fiorentina in this round of the league, they would be able to lead Juventus by five points. In the case of a direct confrontation between the two sides, a five-point difference would make Inter Milan more relaxed and confident!
As for Fiorentina? Li Ang did not regard Fiorentina as a rival for the title at all. In his eyes, even the threat of the fourth-ranked AC Milan was stronger than Fiorentina …
*****
In the away team's locker room at Stadio Franchi.
Li Ang looked at his players and said, "I only have one request for this game, and that is to win!"
"Not only to win, but also to win beautifully! Teach the Fiorentina a good lesson for me! "
"Use your goals and actions to tell the Fiorentina that they will be severely punished for stealing the victory from us!"
In the locker room, all the players were brimming with murderous intent.
At this time, the whole team was united. They already knew that there was no conflict between the manager, Li Ang, and Adriano. The so-called conflict was just an illusion. Not only that, Adriano's attitude towards Li Ang was extremely respectful, and it could even be said that he listened to everything he said. This made the players very curious. They did not know what Li Ang and Adriano had talked about in the meeting that made Adriano's attitude change like this.
However, in any case, the whole Inter Milan team was murderous now. They were even more united and motivated than before.
Li Ang saw the spirit of the whole team and nodded with satisfaction. Then he pointed to Adriano and said, "Do you think they will be so surprised that they will jump up when they see Ribeiro in the starting lineup?"
There was a burst of laughter in the locker room. Everyone was imagining the scene in their minds and was suddenly overjoyed.
*****
On the other side, in the home team's locker room at Stadio Franchi, Prandelli was saying, "Adriano will not be in the starting lineup today. He won't even play, so Agüero will be in the starting lineup and will partner with Ronaldo. You have to be careful of the Argentine boy. Don't let him break through easily …"
Adriano would not be in the starting lineup. Inter Milan's threat in aerial balls was greatly reduced. Now they had to pay attention to preventing the opponent's frontal breakthrough.
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