(The tape recorder clicks on. There is a printout of the Serie A table on my desk with “2ND” circled in red pen, underlined twice for good measure. I am, for once, in an excellent mood.)
Act I: San Siro, Gegenpress vs Tiki-Taka
Wednesday 18th March, away to Milan, and I’ll let the Italian press set the scene, because they described it better than I could: a clash between my gegenpress and Allegri’s tiki-taka, in front of 69,866 people at San Siro. Samu Omorodion put us ahead in the 33rd minute — VAR had to talk the referee into it, but it stood — and Nicolò Fagioli doubled it six minutes later with a skidding drive that earned him an 8.0 and the man of the match award. Christian Pulisic gave Milan a glimmer of hope after 73 minutes, also via VAR intervention, but Riccardo Sottil restored the two-goal cushion a minute later.
Milan 1, Fiorentina 3. Fifty-eight percent possession away at San Siro, more shots, more xG — genuinely the better side on the day, with a scoreline that actually reflected it for once rather than mocking us. Allegri’s press conference afterwards was described as “cagey,” which I’m choosing to read as a compliment. We are, as of tonight, second in Serie A — 61 points from 29 games, above Lazio, above Napoli, eight adrift of Inter and, for the first time in months, genuinely within touching distance of them. I keep re-reading the table to make sure it’s real.
Act II: A Squad Feeling the Strain, and Earning Every Bit of It
The one shadow over a brilliant week is the medical room. Manu Koné pulled up with a hamstring strain making a tackle on Christopher Nkunku and will be out three to four weeks, joining Amir Richardson, Piero Hincapié and Endrick on the sidelines, while Pietro Comuzzo has been flagged as due a breather after a heavy few months. It’s the honest cost of a squad that’s played Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League football almost without pause since Christmas — and credit where it’s due, whoever’s stepped in has more than held up their end. This group has carried a genuinely punishing schedule and is still improving.
Act III: A Few Home Truths, Handled
Not everything is champagne and league tables. Luca Ranieri and Vitaly Janelt’s promises of a fair increase in playing time have both lapsed unmet, and Piero Hincapié’s version of the same is ticking down with a week left on the clock. I’ve been upfront with both Esposito and Janelt that I’ll help them move on the moment the summer window opens, which at least gives two good professionals clarity rather than limbo. Valentín Carboni has also let it be known he fancies a change of scenery, which is a strange problem to have about a 23-year-old playing some of the best football of his career — but it’s a nice problem, all things considered, the kind that comes from having more talent than minutes to hand out.
Act IV: Business as Usual in the Market
Elia Caprile’s move to Shabab Al-Ahli is progressing nicely — £14.25 million for a keeper who’s had limited game time this season, which is a genuinely useful bit of business. Brighton have tabled £22 million for Janelt, with Sunday’s deadline approaching; his camp says he’d like a little more time to consider it properly, which I’m happy to give him after everything he’s given this club.
Elsewhere, Victor Osimhen popped up with a 90th-minute header to send Lazio above Napoli and up to third, a point behind us. Iain’s in fine form. So, for once, are we — and it’s a good deal more satisfying watching this from second place than fifth.
Next time: Napoli away, in a fixture that now matters rather more than any of us expected it to back in August.
