starsoccer

These are strange times for Milan in Europe. A rare failure in Serie A leaves the Rossoneri operating in the UEFA Cup rather than the elite Champions League. As a result Carlo Ancelotti’s stars find themselves in places like Portsmouth.

Portsmouth are one of English football’s enduting provincial sides who had their hey day in the late 1940s when they were twice champions. Since then Pompey have had a sporadic life in the top flight interspersed with periods in the second tier.

Their recent revival brought them the FA Cup and a first ever place in Europe. When this tie came out, the cliches abounded about how Milan wouldn’t like Portsmouth’s cramped ground, the noisy spectators, the poor weather and the like.

When Portsmouth led last night’s match 2-0 andwith less then 10 minutes to go, the Milan critics were busy sharpening their laptops. Except that the script didn’t play out because a side with Milan’s pedigree don’t roll over for anyone.

A bunch of players- many of them veterans- who are among the most decorated ever to play the game, haven’t reached that pinnacle by picking and choosing when to perform. This sort of excellence has been honed in many infavourable scenarios.

For every giant San Siro stadium, Italy also has its cramped provincial grounds, complete with fans desperate to put one over the big boys from the metropolis. Milan’s multiple Serie A titles are won as much in visits to plces like Chievo and Catania as in clashes with the likes of Inter, Juventus and Roma.

And it helps to have Ronaldinho to come off the bench. The former World Player of the Year stepped up to plant free kick home and then poacher extraordinaire Pippo Inzhaghi came up with the leveller.

As usual Inzaghi had spent the whole game chasing every lost cause, playing on the edge of offside, always pestering defenders  and got his goal after several near misses earlier in the game. His industry and commitment stands for the whole Milan side.

The characterisation of Milan as vulnerable in the unfamiliar setting was disrespectful to the Rossoneri and equally patronising to their hosts who can play and have a fistful of internationals on their books to prove it. The Pompey fans were able to see why Milan are such a great club and take heart from an excellent display by their team- and a few journalists had their easy story ruined.