The echoes of a thrilling, yet ultimately disheartening, Derby d`Italia still reverberate through the footballing world. Inter Milan, renowned for their intricate passing and attacking verve, found themselves on the wrong side of a defeat against arch-rivals Juventus. In the immediate aftermath, a familiar voice, that of former Inter captain Andrea Ranocchia, offered a sobering, almost prescriptive, analysis that cuts to the very heart of modern football`s tactical dilemma.
The Double-Edged Sword of `Beautiful Football`
Ranocchia, speaking on Pressing, didn`t mince words. He acknowledged Inter`s inherent strength, their fluent play, and their commitment to building from the back. “Inter is strong,” he stated, “plays well, loves to phrase passes and come out with the ball at their feet.” Yet, in a testament to the brutal paradox of sport, he immediately pointed out the Achilles` heel: “But sometimes it’s necessary to be uglier: its strength, today, is also its weakness.”
This isn`t merely a critique of a single match; it’s a philosophical statement on the game itself. In an era where “possession” and “attacking football” are often lauded as the pinnacles of tactical evolution, Ranocchia`s insight serves as a stark reminder. A team can possess all the artistry in the world, string together mesmerizing passes, and create chances, but if the defensive foundation is porous, the aesthetic appeal becomes merely a tragic prelude to defeat. It’s the footballing equivalent of a magnificent, ornate building with a leaky roof – impressive to behold, but ultimately unsustainable in the face of a storm.
The Lost Art of Defensive Fear
What, then, is the missing ingredient? According to Ranocchia, it`s a fundamental shift in mindset. “One must return to being afraid of conceding goals,” he urged. This isn`t about parking the bus or sacrificing all attacking ambition. Instead, it’s about instilling a primal defensive instinct, a collective dread of seeing the opponent`s net ripple. It`s the gritty, unglamorous work – the tracking back, the desperate block, the tactical foul – that often goes unnoticed until it`s desperately needed. Such moments, he implied, speak not only of tactics but of “hunger.”
Indeed, Inter`s ability to fight back from a two-goal deficit to make it 3-2 against Juventus showcased their resilience and determination to impose their will. Yet, conceding four goals in the process left Ranocchia unequivocal: “They conceded four goals, and that`s where they need to work.” It`s a pragmatic viewpoint that understands that while attacking prowess excites the crowds, defensive solidity ultimately wins titles.
The Thuram Moment: A Glimpse Behind the Curtain
Amidst the tactical dissection, Ranocchia also touched upon an intriguing, slightly awkward, sideline incident involving Marcus Thuram and his brother Khephren during a VAR review. As the officials deliberated over what would have been Juventus`s fourth goal, Marcus was seen sharing a lighthearted moment with his sibling, playfully suggesting, “Say you fouled him.”
Ranocchia, ever the pragmatist, noted, “He didn`t choose the right moment, and seeing it again, perhaps it bothered him too.” It was a human moment, perhaps a fleeting attempt to diffuse tension, but one that subtly underscores the intense scrutiny players face. While revealing a glimpse into Thuram`s character – “he is like that, for better or worse” – it also served as a quiet counterpoint to the gravitas of Ranocchia`s main argument about focus and the profound fear of defeat.
The Path Forward: Finding the Balance
Ranocchia believes Inter has the quality and staff to resolve these issues. The solution isn`t to abandon their identity but to temper it with a dose of gritty realism. Modern football demands versatility – the ability to play beautiful possession football when appropriate, but also to roll up the sleeves, defend resolutely, and embrace the “ugly” side of the game when circumstances dictate. Finding this delicate equilibrium, this synthesis of flair and fortitude, will be Inter`s defining challenge moving forward. Only then can their quest for beauty translate into consistent, undeniable triumph.