There was a tactical image on the pink pages of La Gazzetta Dello Sport this week that Lamine Yamal visited by three Inter players, writes Craig Hope
This describes the prints the intricacies of the approach needed to combat the Barcelona star. The Italian media do strategy with as much enthusiasm as their best defenders have ever marked. The head cut through the minutiae – 'Inter's plan for Yamal … Cage, Sprint and Patience'.
It all looked so simple on paper, the pink print from Inter for Success. Except, when Yamal escapes the cage and runs faster than you, patience quickly makes way for panic.
And inter, you suspect, are afraid of this '17-year-old veteran ', so spinnchronized after his man-of-the-match version during the first leg 3-3 draw. That was remarkable enough his 100th appearance for the club.
There was a lighter moment on the Nerazzurri training field on Monday when head coach Simone Inzaghi in all serious spoke about possibly starting with two recognized full-backs, in Federico Dimarco and Carlos Augusto, in contrast to Yamal on Barcelona right.
“Does that mean I'm gone?” Said Alessandro Bastoni, the left -sided middle behind, sitting next to his boss.
It all felt a bit like nervous laughter. That is what the boy did the men of Inter. No matter how much there is respect for people like Raphinha, Pedri and Dani Olmo, none of them has received such attention in recent days and they will not be on Tuesday evening either.
During the press conference on Monday evening in the San Siro, Olmo was asked by a Spanish reporter what he thought Yamal was characterized by two Inter players. Read the newspaper, friend, it's three!
“That means we will have one free player,” said the attacking midfielder, sounding like he was ready to take advantage. 'Anyway, Yamal shows that he is good against one, two or three. He wants to prove why everyone keeps saying that he is the best in the world. '
Outside the Milanese skies were an ominous black and rainwater quickly, just like Yamal, via pockmarked sidewalks. However, nothing could dampen the feeling of anticipation here.
This city is located on Champions League saturation point. Gazzetta had 11 pages of cover before it started a weekend on the series. Hotel prices near the Historical Duomo read more as telephone numbers. TV stations show nothing but Calcio – Has Coronation Strada postponed? While Taxi trips, for which a harness is advised, are a soundtrack of amazing radio debate, the subject unmistakably – Inzaghi, Martinez, Yamal!
And all this is before we reach the delicious second stage that waits. It is not so much that the semi -final is subtly ready. There was nothing delicate about the first stage. Come at the end, it was like two drunks who traded in a tapas bar at 2 a.m. in a tapas bar. Great entertainment, yes. Great defense, no.
But what does it matter? The fact that this game will be more donors than chess is part of the allure. Despite the defensive dissertation of Gazzetta, the best approach is to attack, just like in Barcelona. The Spanish press recorded the spirit of that game better when their headlines screamed: “Loco!” No need for translation.
The high line of Barcelona was a high-wire act, and you lost the count of how often they kept clinging to the rope. Inter should have won. It was only because of one marginal offside, various episodes of wandering finish and a whole series of genius of Yamal that they did not do.
Barcelona Boss Hansi Flick broke out of the questions about Yamal and was investigated for the danger of repeating the tactics, so that Inter could break as desired. He is a sympathetic guy, film, but he didn't like this.
“From outside it might be:” Wow, they (inter) played really well, “said the German. 'The reason is that we did not have the right positions to press the right player. We have to correct some things. '
Ok, back to Yamal.
“Lamine is a genius,” said Flick and gave the audience what they wanted. “What he does with the ball is incredible. Every pass is with the right pressure and direction. In the first stage he brought us back into the game with his game. It is beautiful. But now he must always show that. '
A little later, when Barcelona trained on the San Siro field and opened heaven, we got a glimpse of the teenager with the world at his feet. He looked just as happy with a football.
He also does not need it to stand out. There was one film, in a Rondo with Pedri and Frankie de Jong, who brought a smile to the face of his teammates, as well as American journalists in De Standaard. My Italian colleagues looked a bit insecure.
Their reaction was to celebrate the fitness of Lautaro Martinez, the Argentinian World Cup winner, which was enforced during the break last Wednesday. The front page of Gazzetta wore a photo of the striker, who cute his ears, with the fat -printed and bloated text: “Inter – I am here!”.
Martinez will have to be everywhere if int progress has to make. He had been to Barcelona on the field in the second half, because the home team lost their shape and sometimes had their senses a lead to protect tonight.
Not that a home advantage would have given us any indication of how this game will take place. There was no rhyme or reason for a large part of the first stage – apart from individual moments of inspiration – and the primitive starting point of beating your opponent, even if the analysis here is more scientific.
Gazzetta's statement about dealing with Yamal ended with a rally cry. “It's about knowing how you can broaden your gaze beyond Yamal's teeth,” they wrote. “Then there is enough to bring the whole of Barcelona and run to a great evening in Munich.”
First, there is a great evening to enjoy in Milan. And in particular a great player who could ever be the best.