Chapter 44. He had to admit that Pirlo was right...

After the game, Sky Sports rated the performance of the players from both teams.

Eight of Arsenal's starting eleven scored 8 points or higher, with Fabregas earning 9 points with a long-range shot, and even Eboue, who had the lowest score, had 6 points.

Milan's scoring was rather lackluster, with most players only managing 4 or 5 points. Maldini and Kaká both scored 6, while Pirlo, criticized for failing to live up to his playmaker role, also only received 4 points. Only Fino's score was decent; his outstanding performances on both ends of the pitch, along with his goals, earned him 8 points.

Milan's Champions League journey is over, and the ratings are meaningless except as fodder for media hype and fan arguments.

Whether it was Ancelotti and Maldini at the post-match press conference, or Berlusconi and Galliani in subsequent interviews, they all congratulated Arsenal with great grace and calmly accepted Milan's defeat.

Ancelotti told the media that after being eliminated from the Champions League, Milan's full focus will be on the league, and they will continue to strive for the title.

Galliani hinted to the media that Milan will bring in reinforcements after the season ends, and continue their challenge for the European title next season.

After the post-match press conference, Ancelotti took the players to the hospital to visit Fino.

The hospital's diagnosis is in: a severe sprain. Surgery is not required. The doctor will manually reposition the ankle bone to its normal position, then immobilize it with a brace for 2-3 weeks, gradually incorporating joint range of motion exercises and muscle strengthening. The entire recovery period will be more than 6 weeks.

Fino will miss at least 7 league matches. If his recovery goes well, he will return to action in AC Milan's home game against Reggina in the 34th round of Serie A.

When Ancelotti and his team arrived at the hospital, the doctors had already completed the necessary procedures, and Fino was already asleep in his hospital bed.

Fino was so tired that even the pain couldn't stop him from falling asleep, only causing him to frown frequently in his sleep.

Ancelotti did not disturb Fino's rest. He gestured for the players to leave the ward with him and then gently closed the door.

“Fino is asleep. You can go now. Take a day off tomorrow. I’ll wait here for his family…” Ancelotti’s words came to an abrupt halt. He suddenly remembered that Fino had no family.

The group of more than twenty people fell silent instantly.

It was too pitiful to leave Fino lying alone in the hospital bed, and many of her teammates said they could stay and keep her company.

Maldini pondered for a moment and then said, "I'll stay; you all go back and rest."

Everyone felt at ease having their usually steady and reliable captain by their side. Ancelotti was just about to give a few words of advice when Inzaghi interrupted him.

“I’ll stay, Paul. I have nothing to do at home by myself. You go home and spend time with your family.”

Maldini raised an eyebrow, expressing his doubts about Inzaghi's reliability.

"Don't worry, even if I'm unreliable, there are still doctors and nurses. I'll call a nurse as soon as Fino wakes up."

Maldini turned to look at Ancelotti.

Ancelotti nodded and instructed, "If anything happens, call me and Paul immediately."

After receiving Inzaghi's assurance, Ancelotti waved for everyone to leave.

Nesta also wanted to stay, but Pirlo pulled him away.

Before leaving, Pirlo gave Inzaghi a warning look, and Inzaghi nodded slightly.

Inzaghi sat by Fino's bedside, gently took Fino's hand, and quietly looked at Fino's face.

Fino didn't sleep well; the pain in his ankle invaded his sleep, and he frowned from time to time.

Inzaghi extended his other hand and stopped a few centimeters above Fino's brow bone.

He wanted to smooth out Fino's furrowed brow, along with the gloom and pain in Fino's dreams, but he was also afraid of disturbing Fino's sleep—Fino had worked so hard today, let him get a good night's rest.

He gently stroked the air a few times, then withdrew his hand.

Sitting by Fino's bedside, he suddenly felt a pang of regret for the agreement that would last until the end of the season.

He had always liked Fino, and this liking was not just based on his appreciation of her looks and sexual attraction driven by hormones.

Fino possessed a vitality that was both fragile and vibrant. He was like a seed that had fallen into a corner and struggled to sprout in a crack. Lacking sunlight and nutrients, the sprout was delicate and fragile, as if a gentle breeze could kill it. Yet, it burst forth with vibrant life force, striving to take root in the crack and grow tenaciously.

He grew up in pain, yet he still harbored love and kindness for the world.

He wasn't a bright little sun like Kaka; he was the moon high in the night sky, gentle and tolerant, silently casting a beam of moonlight on everyone walking in the darkness.

Fino is so wonderful; she's completely different from me.

He gradually developed a possessive desire for Fino. He didn't like the moonlight gently shining on others; he wanted to have the moon all to himself.

Having navigated the dating scene for so many years, he seemed to have lost the ability to love normally; his once passionate heart had long since died out, and he didn't know how to exchange sincerity for sincerity. But that didn't matter; he was a master at winning hearts, and the naive Fino was no match for him.

When Fino's true identity was revealed, and when Pirlo harshly criticized him, he wavered, but he still couldn't give up his inner desire and continued to carry out the plan step by step.

He succeeded. In two and a half months, the agreement will take effect, and he will possess the moon.

Today, when he saw Fino lying painfully on the grass, the tears from Fino's eyes seemed to fall onto his heart, drop by drop, soaking his soul. His heart, which he thought had been extinguished, seemed to beat again, throbbing with pain.

The pain persisted until he sat down at Fino's bedside.

In his pain, he began to loathe his own despicable nature. He lied to Fino, saying he would be serious and devoted, but even he himself didn't believe such nonsense.

He genuinely liked Fino, but how long could that liking last? Six months? A year? He himself didn't know.

But Fino had a different idea; she actually harbored a long-term fantasy about a womanizer like herself.

He had to admit that Pirlo was right; it wasn't equal love, but rather emotional exploitation of the younger by the older.

Such a wonderful person as Fino shouldn't have met someone like me when he was so naive about love. He deserved a healthy love, one that shone brightly in the sunlight without a trace of gloom.

He shouldn't suffer the slightest setback; he should grow into a towering tree surrounded by abundant love.

Inzaghi's resolve wavered, and he wanted to cancel the agreement.

That night, he thought a lot, and finally lay down beside Fino's bed and drifted off to sleep.

He was a very particular person when it came to his sleep environment. Coupled with his inner turmoil and his worries about Fino, he was in a state of semi-consciousness. When Pirlo quietly walked in with the morning light, he was immediately awakened.

Fino was still asleep.

Pirlo stood by Fino's bedside for a few minutes, then Inzaghi gestured for him to come out with him.

They stood silently in front of Fino's hospital room, watching him through the crack in the half-open door as he lay on the bed, waiting for him to wake up naturally.

After a long while, Inzaghi said something in a low voice.

"you are right."

The sentence seemed abrupt, but Pirlo immediately understood its meaning.

Pirlo patted him on the shoulder silently without saying a word.

"You knew this day would come, didn't you?" Inzaghi said with a wry smile, "That's why you chose..."

“Pippo!” Pirlo interrupted him. “That’s none of your business. You should think about what you should do first, and make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

Inzaghi thought he was a master manipulator, but he didn't understand that once you're involved, you can't always back out in time unless you're truly unemotional.

How could I not be attracted to something as wonderful as Cofino? ​​The moment my heart was moved, I should have made my choice.

Once you enter the game, you're destined to be unable to escape unscathed. Knowing that you can't end well, yet still insisting on going your own way, will ultimately hurt both yourself and others.

If there's no possibility of getting along with someone you like, it's best to just admire them from afar.

After a while, Fino woke up, and Inzaghi and Pirlo pushed open the door and went in.

"Finnie, how are you feeling?" Pirlo asked Finnie as he poured her some water.

"It's alright." Fino's voice was still a little dry and hoarse.

Pirlo helped him sit up and handed him a glass of water.

Fino took the cup, drank a few sips of water, and cleared his throat.

When did you arrive?

Pirlo pulled out a chair in front of the hospital bed, sat down, and straightened his collar.

“I just arrived, and Pippo stayed with you all night.”

Fino looked at Inzaghi, whose expression was unreadable, and smiled, saying, "Thank you, Pippo. Come over here and talk to me, why are you standing so far away?"

Inzaghi walked over and sat at the foot of Fino's bed.

“We lost, Finney.” Pirlo stared down at the white sheets. “I’m so sorry, if it weren’t for me…”

Fino interrupted him, saying, "I know. I knew the outcome before the treatment."

He patted Pirlo's hand and continued, "Don't blame yourself, Andrea. You worked very hard in midfield. It was our overall strength that was lacking. Since we've given it our all, don't dwell on the loss."

Pirlo's mistake led to the goal, but that mistake was by no means the fundamental reason for losing the game.

Unlike Pirlo and others who experienced Milan's glorious era, Fino joined the first team when Milan was in a precarious state. Even though he praised Milan's strength, he didn't really have any illusions about Milan's ability.

There are many geniuses, but most of them are no longer in their prime.

That's right. Starting from the 2002/03 season, Milan did reach the Champions League quarterfinals for five consecutive seasons and won the trophy twice. However, this season, six players in the starting lineup are exactly the same as the Milan team from six years ago.

On the bright side, the roster is stable; on the other hand, the roster is aging and lacks fresh blood.

The Milan dynasty was already due for collapse; last year's Champions League title was just Kaká forcibly prolonging Milan's life.

Facing a young and energetic Arsenal, Milan had no advantage in age or physical condition, and their tactics were also countered. It was fortunate that they managed to keep a clean sheet for more than 170 minutes over the two legs.

The primary responsibility for the loss cannot be entirely placed on Pirlo, nor can it be blamed on the hardworking senior players. Kaká and Nesta were injured, and Ancelotti was also unable to cook without ingredients.

Fino certainly didn't blame himself; he had given it his all and had a clear conscience.

Blame the clubs. Their poor revenue-generating ability leads to a lack of money. Without money, they can't afford to buy good players or retain star players, so they end up relying on their own resources.

After finding someone to hold accountable, Fino felt a little better. He even began to understand the fans and media who held meetings with various parties over the loss. Regardless of whether the meetings were right or wrong, at least he had found an outlet for his emotions.

That's right, it's all the club's fault! Fino nodded fiercely in his heart.