Chapter 11 The Most Handsome Person
After returning to Italy from Monaco, Milan quickly faced Fiorentina in the second round of Serie A.
Gilardino made his first start, while Fino and Inzaghi were also included in the matchday squad.
Milan took a temporary lead in the first half with a penalty, but Fiorentina equalized in the second half. The score remained 1-1 until the final whistle, with Milan drawing at home against Fiorentina.
Gilardino played the full 90 minutes, but his only goal came from Kaká. During the post-match thank-you ceremony, some unfriendly murmurs towards Gilardino were heard from the south stand.
After a two-week international break, Serie A resumes with Milan traveling to Siena for their third league match.
With the Champions League group stage match just three days away, Ancelotti rotated some of his key players in this round of league play, with Kaká, Pirlo, Inzaghi, and others not traveling with the team.
Ancelotti hesitated somewhat when it came to choosing the starting striker.
In this match, Ancelotti still fielded the 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation. In the first round of the league, Fino had already proven that he could play the spearhead position of the Christmas tree, while Gilardino's performance in the second round of the league was not outstanding.
Logically, it would be safer to start Fino, and Ancelotti had long intended to replace Gilardino with Fino. However, the season has only just begun, and prematurely removing Gilardino from the starting lineup might not be a good thing.
Moreover, Gourcuff replaced Kaká in this match, so Gilardino might be able to create some sparks with Gourcuff.
However, Gilardino's performance did not satisfy Ancelotti.
After the opening tip-off, Gilardino received several crosses from his teammates, but none of them resulted in a goal. Subsequently, Seedorf, Gourcuff, Brocchi, and even Nesta took turns becoming the focus of the attack, while Gilardino began to disappear from the game.
In the 40th minute, after Gourcuff's shot was saved by Siena's goalkeeper Elephceropoulos, the live broadcast camera turned meaningfully to Gilardino, whose bewildered expression appeared on the stadium's big screen.
Fino sighed.
Even as a competitor, Fino admitted that Gilardino was a good player. He was like a weaker version of a combination of Vieri and Inzaghi, and he was very threatening in the penalty area. This is why Milan was willing to spend 25 million euros to bring in Gilardino back then.
However, the mismatch between an individual's playing style and the team's overall playing style is a very troublesome problem. Repeatedly wasting opportunities will only slowly erode the trust of the coach and teammates, and will also affect one's self-confidence.
Gilardino has no future at Milan; he either needs to change his playing style to adapt to the team or join a team that suits him better. If he continues to be stuck in his ways, he will have no future.
Before the first half was over, Ancelotti returned to the locker room early.
Milan's overall performance today was poor. They couldn't break through in the midfield and attack, and their defense was riddled with holes. Siena's goal in the first half was caused by a series of defensive errors: Dida dropped the ball, and Kaladze missed his clearance, putting Milan down by one goal away from home.
Before the players returned to the locker room, Ancelotti considered the rotation options for the second half. He wanted to replace Gilardino with Fino, or take off a midfielder and switch to a two-striker formation.
But seeing Gilardino's bewildered face on the stadium's big screen still made him feel reluctant. At this moment, showing distrust towards Gilardino would be a huge blow to his morale.
Well, the season has only just begun, and it's not yet time to fight tooth and nail for European qualification spots at the end of the season. Giving Gilardino another half a game wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides, to conserve energy for the Champions League, only half of the starters were used in this game, so even if the performance was a bit ugly, it would still be acceptable to outsiders.
But he still had to give the players who were performing terribly a talking-to to prevent them from continuing to flounder in the second half.
When the players returned to the locker room, Ancelotti was waiting there with a serious expression.
"I bet fans all over the world are laughing at Milan right now. Last season's Champions League winners are being overtaken in the league by a team that has been fighting relegation for years. It's normal to be overtaken. We played like crap today, from the midfield and attack to the defense, we all played like crap."
The players all lowered their heads and obediently accepted the scolding; not one of them had the face to defend their performance.
Ancelotti sighed. There were too many stars in the team whose form declined as they entered the twilight of their careers. He had been through this period himself and couldn't bear to name them one by one. In the end, he just gave a general critique.
"Cheer up! We still have 45 minutes to salvage Milan's honor. This is how we need to play in the second half..."
In the second half, Siena made changes to their attacking line, while Milan first substituted Jankulovski for Favalli, and then Ambrosini for Emerson.
Both sides traded blows, but neither really scored.
Milan finally equalized in stoppage time thanks to a powerful shot from Nesta.
At least he managed to get a point, that was the only way Ancelotti could console himself.
Three days later, in the first group stage match of the Champions League, Rui Costa, who had made great contributions to Milan's Champions League trophy in the 2002/03 season, returned to the San Siro with Benfica and was warmly welcomed by the fans.
Fino and Costa were never teammates. Costa left Milan in the summer of 2006, while Fino joined the first team a few months later, and they had no interaction.
But this does not diminish Fino's appreciation for Costa.
Fino really liked Costa's playing style, which was calm, elegant, and unrestrained. He was like a great artist on the green field, seemingly casually completing one exquisite dance after another, relaxed, free, and elegant.
Costa's appearance also perfectly matches Fino's aesthetic.
Fino still remembers the fireworks derby a few years ago, when Costa and Inter Milan player Materazzi watched the fireworks side by side. Even their backs were filled with a poetic romantic charm and an epic sense of destiny. It was so full of stories.
Before the match started, Costa went among the Milan players and greeted his former teammates.
Seeing Costa hugging his former comrades one by one, Fino quietly joined the last line of hugs and reached out his hand when Costa walked over.
Costa looked somewhat surprised, but he shook hands with Fino in a friendly manner.
“I know you, Fino Cabrini, you used to be the young goalkeeper in the youth team. I've seen you play after you switched to striker, you were very good. You're a talented young man, I wish you all the best in the future.”
Fino then reserved a Costa jersey, which Costa readily agreed to.
Kaka, standing to the side, stared in disbelief.
Although Fino appeared calm, those who knew him well could easily tell that this was a rare display of initiative and enthusiasm from him towards people he didn't know well.
After Costa left, Kaká nudged Fino on the shoulder and asked curiously, "What's going on? Are you a Ruiz fan?"
"I kind of admire it."
"What do you admire? Tell me more," Kaka urged.
"Playing style, appearance."
Wow, that's interesting.
What's wrong with the kid in the family? It's one thing to praise Rui's football skills, that's common knowledge, but why praise his looks too?
Inzaghi, Pirlo, Ambrosini, and others moved a little closer and quietly continued to listen to Kaká and Fino's casual conversation.
Kaka was also surprised and pressed for an answer: "Looks? There are so many handsome guys on the team, and I've never seen you praise any of them. Why do you think Rui is better looking?"
This was a difficult question to answer, and if they continued talking about it, it might go on forever, so Fino decided to change the subject.
"That's not important. Would you like some dried apples? I've dried a lot; I can bring them to you if you like."
"What's that? A snack made of apples?" Kaka's attention was easily diverted to the food.
Pirlo was exasperated with Kaká, thinking that this was all a foodie could be. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Forget about the dried apples, let's talk about Rui's good looks first."
Nesta, who was standing a little further away, came over after hearing the keywords and asked curiously, "Dried apples? What dried apples? Where are they? Are they good?"
Just as Kaka was about to answer Nesta's question, Pirlo covered his mouth, determined not to let the foodie continue.
Pirlo embellished the conversation between Kaka and Fino: "Fino said that Rui is more handsome than everyone on our team."
Wow, what's wrong with you, kid? Why are you putting others down?
Now the others gathered around, especially those who considered themselves handsome, crossing their arms to see how Fino would respond.
No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense...
Fino was speechless with grievances.
Why did he suddenly feel like he was being interrogated? How did things get to this point? Fino was completely baffled.
Inzaghi stepped in to help Fino out of the predicament: "Andrea, don't exaggerate. Fino only praised Rui's appearance and didn't compare him to others."
Before Fino could even catch his breath, Inzaghi put his arm around Fino's shoulder, turned to stare at him, and asked again, "But I'm curious, in your opinion, who is the most handsome guy on the team?"
Fino sensed something was wrong. Inzaghi seemed to be helping him out, but in reality, he was pushing him further towards the edge of a cliff.
Sure enough, the others' gazes became even more intense, as if they wouldn't give up until they got an answer from Fino.
Interesting, Pirlo really enjoyed the scene, but before he could add fuel to the fire, Fino uttered a name: "Andrea".
Pirlo: Huh? ???
He was then subjected to scrutiny and examination from others who seemed determined to prove him wrong.
Pirlo's gaze towards Fino changed. "No way, this kid is so vengeful. Is he trying to shift the blame?"
At this moment, the referee came over and interrupted the players' idle chatter, signaling that the starting players could line up and enter the field.
In fact, Fino genuinely thinks Pirlo is very good-looking. He has the same temperament as Rui Costa. His face shape and features may not be as refined, but he has a mature, wise, and elegant temperament with a lot of stories to tell. He is exactly Fino's type.
Of course, it's true that he admires Pirlo's looks, and it's also true that he's trying to shift the blame. Even after sitting on the bench, Fino found Pirlo's bewildered expression quite amusing.
Milan won the match.
In the 9th minute, Pirlo opened the scoring for his team with a free kick. In the 23rd minute, Inzaghi scored again with a volley. In stoppage time of the second half, Benfica pulled one back, and the final score was 2-1.
It's worth mentioning that in the 87th minute of the match, Benfica's coach Camacho made a special substitution for Rui Costa, allowing Costa, who had been away from the San Siro for a season, to receive cheers from the entire stadium.
The players on the Milan bench also stood up and applauded their old friend.
Costa was deeply moved, and the moment when he pressed his hand to his chest and bowed to the fans in gratitude became the most touching scene of the match.
After the match, Fino walked toward Costa on the field.
Upon seeing this, Pirlo immediately took off his jersey and handed it to Costa, intending to teach Fino a lesson—this was the consequence of challenging the god of mischief.
"Childish," Fino thought to herself.
Costa accepted Pirlo's jersey but didn't give him his own. Costa knew Pirlo's personality all too well.
He patted Pirlo on the shoulder: "Andrea, don't bully the little kid."
At this moment, Fino had already walked over. Costa exchanged jerseys with Fino, gave him a hug, said a few words of encouragement, and then walked towards his teammates with the two Milan jerseys.
Pirlo, who was waiting to the side, hooked the hair ribbon on Fino's forehead with his index finger and flicked it lightly, giving Fino a look that said "this is not over yet," before putting his arm around Fino's shoulder and walking towards the dressing room.
Nesta and Kaká caught up halfway there; they had something to ask Fino.
"Is that dried apple tasty?"
When will you bring us some food?
...
The two foodies did indeed hit it off.
Fino's head was throbbing from the constant nagging. To avoid further damaging her ears, Fino decisively said, "Tomorrow!"
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