Chapter 14 Post-Match Press Conference

Ancelotti requested that Fino accompany him to the post-match press conference.

On one hand, Fino was the best player on the field. On the other hand, Ancelotti gradually discovered that although Fino was not talkative, he was never hesitant to speak when he needed to, and was always poised and confident, standing out among the group of "dumb handsome guys" and "beautiful foodies".

At today's press conference, the South Stand issue was definitely the focus of media questions. On such a sensitive issue, it was essential to bring someone who knew how to speak politely.

This was Fino's first time facing the media, and as soon as he sat down, the flashbulbs started going off non-stop.

"That's enough, don't scare our handsome boy."

Ancelotti made a joke, which elicited good-natured laughter from the reporters.

A familiar reporter joked, "Carlo, you've finally decided to bring your handsome boy out?"

Ancelotti raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Yes, Paulo, Pippo, and Ritchie all have a jersey already. It's time to update the jersey best-selling list."

Amidst laughter and cheers, the press conference officially began.

A reporter from Gazzetta dello Sport asked first: "Carlo, first of all, congratulations to Milan on winning 3 points. What are your thoughts on today's game?"

"It was a great match, both sides played very well. Milan showed our unity and strength, while Parma never gave up until the very end, showing the team's resilience. It would have been even better if there had been fewer fouls. In the second half, Kaká was pushed around like a roly-poly toy, I was really afraid he would get injured."

"Who do you think was the best player today?" a Milan-friendly journalist asked, extending a compliment.

Ancelotti immediately understood, laughing and saying, "The best player is sitting next to me. I was shocked when the first goal came, and I hope the cameras didn't capture my stunned expression. Cabrini showed his dribbling and finishing abilities; that was a beautiful goal, wasn't it? The second goal was a perfect team effort."

Ancelotti patted Fino on the shoulder and continued, "I want to emphasize the third goal. Cabrini had an unobstructed shooting path in front of him, but he resisted the temptation of a hat-trick and passed the ball to Gilardino, who also had a great chance, just to encourage his teammate who hadn't been in good form recently. This young man is kind, noble, and selfless; he puts the team and his teammates first. Of course, Gilardino didn't disappoint him, and I believe he'll soon regain his form."

The reporter then turned his attention to Fino, who had been smiling the whole time.

"Fino, tell me your thoughts. Why did you decide to pass the ball to Gilardino?"

“Milan has a strong attacking midfield and forward line, and everyone has excellent shooting skills, but everyone remembers that we are a team, and the team's victory is more important than any individual performance. We trust our brothers and our teammates. I knew Alberto could score, so I passed the ball to him.”

"Don't you have any selfish motives at all?" the reporter pressed.

“Of course,” Fino joked. “If I don’t score a hat trick, I can refuse to treat you. You know, Sandro and the others eat a lot, so I’ll have to be careful with my salary.”

It was obviously a joke, but the reporters still laughed along.

Someone shouted, "Fino, I'm sure Milan will re-sign you soon, then you'll have plenty of money to treat everyone."

"Thank you for your kind words."

The lighthearted conversation ended there, and the questions gradually became more pointed.

"Mr. Ancelotti, what do you think about the increasingly intense conflict between the team and the fans? You know, the San Siro is no longer like Milan's home ground at all. There are no cheers, no applause, and no singing."

It's finally here.

Ancelotti had been prepared for this for a long time.

"Milan will always be the fans' Milan, and their encouragement and support are of course very important to us. We are not used to not having the fans singing and cheering at home, but we will not stop working hard because of this. We will still give our all for victory. As long as we all love Milan, the conflict will eventually be resolved. After this game, the singing and cheering at San Siro have returned."

Lacking any juicy details, the reporter pressed on: "In the six official matches this season, Milan has won four and drawn two, and also won the European Super Cup. This isn't a bad record. Do you think the fans are being unreasonable?"

"Fans have the right to express their opinions and thoughts. Our task is to play well in every game, not to argue with the fans," Ancelotti said calmly.

"A cunning old fox," the reporter cursed inwardly.

Reporters from the Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" began to attack Fino.

"Cabrini, when you scored your first goal, you didn't run to the stands to celebrate. Was that an expression of dissatisfaction with the fans?"

"Of course not. Everyone celebrates differently. You know, I have Chinese blood, and composure and restraint are ingrained in my genes. The one who provided the assist was Massimo. He is a senior who takes great care of me, and I have learned a lot from him. So, I immediately opened my arms to him, hoping to hug him. When I scored the second goal, I also raised my hands to thank the fans for their support."

"After the match, when the whole stadium sang, do you think the fans and the club have reconciled?"

The Italian sports newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" has dug another hole for Fino.

How could they possibly make up?

Fan groups like those in the South Stand, which have vested interests with the team, are very complex. Everyone knows the special nature of the South Stand, and the actions of those organized extremist fans have gone beyond the scope of normal fans.

Maldini has always wanted the club to distance itself from these extreme fan groups, but the club has consistently avoided the issue, pretending they are normal fans.

Even for normal, pure fans, the relationship with the team is a mix of love and hate. They can spare no effort to defend the team, but they can turn on them in an instant, and they can be even more ruthless than their opponents when it comes to criticizing the club, the coach, and the players.

Fans of every team feel this way – it's not just Milan.

But these words cannot come out of Fino's mouth.

"The relationship between the club and the fans is like that of a married couple. In the long course of their marriage of over a hundred years, there will be many times when they don't understand each other, but they will always make up. Arguing, making up, and then arguing again—this cycle runs through the entire marriage, but their feelings will never break down. The end of one argument may be the beginning of the next. Milan has been moving forward through this cycle of arguments and reconciliations. In matches, we crave the support of the fans, just as we need to draw strength from our family members. We hope that in every match to come, we can hear the cheers and songs of the fans; that is really important to us."

The brilliant metaphor and excellent answer drew enthusiastic applause from the media interview room.

Ancelotti was very satisfied. Fino's words gave both the club and the South Stand a way out, and it was only natural that both sides would choose to compromise.

Even if the South Stand continues to cause trouble, the seriousness of the conflict can be reduced by using the analogy of "a couple arguing."

See, those with brains are different from those idiots. Ancelotti thought to himself, looking down on them.

Back in the locker room, Fino's teammates all rushed over to hug him.

Today, they first played a thrilling match and then received cheers from the fans—good things come in pairs. They were long fed up with the silent fans in the stands, and the occasional booing made it even more unbearable than playing away.

Gilardino put his arm around Fino's shoulder and told him he wanted to treat him to dinner.

Ambrosini clapped his hands, interrupting their conversation; he had just received a call from Maldini.

Paul said there would be a dinner party tonight, paid for by the club, and no one was allowed to be absent.

Cheers erupted in the locker room.

The following day, Fino became the absolute protagonist in the news reports, and a photo of him embracing Gilardino with his eyes down appeared on the front page of major sports newspapers.

"Cabrini: I trust Gilardino; Milan is a friendly community." — Gazzetta dello Sport

"Full of bromance, Cabrini forgoes hat-trick just to make his teammates laugh" - Sport Bild

"The New Kaka? AC Milan's Superstar Ignites the San Siro with Two Goals and One Assist" - Kicker

Witty Remarks: Cabrini Uses a Marriage Comparison to the Relationship Between the Team and its Fans – Tuttosport

...

"There's more to the story; Milan's attempt to reconcile with the Süd stand may not be easy," a report from the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reveals the secrets behind the so-called reconciliation.

"After the AC Milan home game against Parma ended, the cheers from the stands grew louder, and the fans sang their team anthem once again, seemingly bringing the struggle between the South Stand and the club to a close. However, a Milan fan from outside the South Stand told our reporter that before the match, leaders of South Stand fan groups came over to warn them: no singing the team anthem, no clapping, and no cheering for the home team. This warning had been going on for a long time, and for their personal safety, fans in other stands had no choice but to comply, remaining silent during the match. But as time went on, ordinary fans became increasingly dissatisfied with the behavior of the South Stand."

"After Cabrini scored the first goal, some fans ignored the warnings from the South Stand and applauded Cabrini. This action inspired the other silent fans, and more and more fans joined in. After Gilardino scored the third goal, a frustrated Gilardino made the fans outside the South Stand resent the South Stand's targeting of the players. They chose to sing the team song, breaking the silence at San Siro."

A member of the "Rosé-Colo" self-governing alliance told our reporter that the uncontrolled behavior of fans in the other three stands has created differing opinions within several extreme fan groups in the south stand. They don't want to completely oppose the ordinary fans, as this would affect the prestige and recruitment of new members. Ultimately, they may choose to temporarily back down, and Cabrini's post-match press conference provided them with a good way out.

"Given the above facts, it is too early to talk about reconciliation. As Cabrini said, 'The end of one quarrel may be the beginning of the next.' Let's wait and see how the relationship between AC Milan and the San Siro South Stand will develop in the future."

A week later, during AC Milan's home game against Catania, a new banner was displayed in the South Stand.

"Cheers or silence, it's all for Milan."

Singing and cheering erupted; the magic of San Siro had returned.