Inter in title chase, Milan in freefall

MauroIcardi’s heroics proved Inter Milan are ready to reclaim the Serie Atitle for the first time since 2010, club president Massimo Morattiinsisted yesterday, as AC Milan were left in crisis. Captain Icardifired Inter to a dramatic 3-2 victory in the Derby della Madonnina,which moved them 10 points clear of city rivals AC Milan and just twobehind leaders Napoli, with champions Juventus in third after losing athome for the first time in two years.“Yesterday (Sunday) I felt morelike a fan than ever before. The game was fascinating and beating Milanis always special,” Moratti said. “It’s the clash that the people ofMilan feel most, regardless of the table. They (leaders Napoli) are verygood, but at the same time, Inter started off quietly and gave me theimpression of being more of a team. They can overcome Napoli and go forthe Scudetto.”The derby between the two former European superpowerswas not only about city rivalry but also one of Chinese owners – ZhangJindong, whose Suning Group bankrolls Inter Milan and Li Yonghong’sRossoneri Sport Investment Lux Group, which owns AC Milan.AC Milanhave been completely overhauled at a cost of 230 million euros ($270million) by Li, who already paid 740 million euros to buy the club lastApril. Zhang’s Suning group paid nearly 270 million euro for Inter Milanin June 2016.Both teams have won 18 Serie A titles – second only tothe 33 won by Juventus – with Milan last winning in 2011 while Inter’slast championship was the previous season in 2010, when Jose Mourinholed the club to the Champions League, the Italian Cup and Serie A.Inter’s seventh win of the season under Luciano Spalletti was enough topaint the city of Milan black and blue. “To win these matches has awonderful taste,” said Spalletti. “We’ve stockpiled a lot of points nowwhich will help for the future and we want to push for as many points aspossible.”And he heaped praise on Icardi after his hat-trickheroics. “Mauro was great. He was fundamental, he helped the team as hewent to recover the ball, lessening the burden on his teammates. Then,he made no mistakes in attacking space in the box or with his finishing.He’s a strong player, he’s complete for his age and he takes on greatresponsibility.” Inter next go head to head with Napoli whomaintained their perfect run of eight wins in win over Roma. “We’ll gothere to play but Napoli are a great side and (Maurizio) Sarri is doing abrilliant job.”AC Milan dropped to tenth place – 12 points behindleaders Napoli and ten adrift of second-placed Inter – after theirfourth defeat piled the pressure on coach Vincenzo Montella. “Looking atthe table right now, everything might seem out of reach, but the seasonis very long and we can make up ground,” insisted Montella.AC Milanchief Marco Fassone backed Montella despite a third straight defeat.“Vincenzo is staying with us. When you change this much, as we did, youneed time,” said Fassone. “AC Milan should not be in that position andwe have to climb back,” insisted Fassone, appointed managing directorafter Li’s Rossoneri Sport Investment bought the club from formerItalian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. “We are starting to see thefirst positive signs, but Montella will still have time to continue hiswork,” continued Fassone. Things will change eventually.” MarioBalotelli, now at Nice but previously at both clubs in Milan, urged ACto make a bid for Icardi. “He’s a true ‘bomber’. Maybe Milan will wakeup and buy him!,” said the Nice player on Instagram.