After the match, Inter forward Icardi, who scored twice, was named the MVP of the match.
The spotlight flashed, and he held up the trophy high with both hands, shouting the slogan:
"Forza Inter!"
This spirited pose seemed to be the new king of Meazza.
Italian "Sky Sports" was the first to rate the players' performance.
"Icardi, 9 points, the best of the match, dominated the game!"
"Yuto Nagatomo, 8 points, his tireless running compensated for this Japanese player's physical shortcomings, and he assisted Icardi's winning goal in the final moments!"
"Kovacic, 7.5 points, this Croatian, who has gone through the baptism of the World Cup, showed increasing maturity in midfield control, excellently managing the midfield task."
"Ranocchia, 7 points. Although the first goal was due to his position loss, his defense was steady in the rest of the match, preventing any further goals."
"Tang, 7 points, blessed by the goddess of fortune, he appeared so lovable tonight. Whatever the case, his two touches changed the game."
"Handanovic, 6.5 points. The goal had nothing to do with him, Inter's goalkeeper faced little overall pressure in this match."
"Coach Mancini, 6.5 points. In his first home game after returning, he secured three points in front of 57,000 fans, though the process was extremely difficult."
Inter Youth Training Camp.
A little past nine in the evening, U19 youth team coach Leno hurried back.
He had just finished the UEFA A-level coach examination in Bern, Switzerland.
He rushed back by car to the office in Milan.
Tomorrow, in the afternoon, there's a youth team league match to play, the dedicated Leno must prepare immediately.
Leno, carrying a bag, went to the toilet and happened to run into his assistant coach Chiwo.
The two went to the bathroom together.
"Haha, Leno, you're really dedicated, coming to the office so late. Impressive!"
"Aren't you here too? Is the starting list for tomorrow ready?"
"Yes, it's on your desk."
"Hmm, by the way, which youth players from the first team did you report up this round?"
"Tang."
"Tang?"
"Yes, the Chinese guy, Tang Long."
Hearing this name, Leno exaggeratedly shuddered.
He accidentally got his hand wet!
He looked at Chiwo with a melancholic expression, really wanting to wipe his hand on Chiwo.
"Have you gone mad, Chiwo! This Chinese guy's contract is expiring next month, and he's leaving. Why report him up for such a good opportunity? Why not leave it for a promising player in the team?"
Chiwo appeared indifferent.
Although he is just an assistant coach, he was a famous player in Inter's treble-winning team before retiring, so he speaks firmly with the head coach.
"I think Tang is quite talented, and besides, I also offered him a new youth team contract."
Leno frowned.
"You're going too far, Chiwo! You can't issue a new contract without my permission."
Chiwo zipped up his pants with a zzzzip, turned his head to Leno, and said while walking:
"You're right, Leno, maybe I shouldn't have given him a new contract, it's a waste anyway, because in the just-finished match, Tang Long appeared for the first team and was lucky enough to accidentally assist. I suspect Mancini likes this lucky star a lot."
Leno, slightly disheveled, was left alone on the spot.
Compared to Inter's indifference to Tang Long.
The Chinese soccer community was in uproar!
The day after the match ended.
The reports about Tang Long had flooded the headlines of major news media.
"Tencent Sports": Tang Long's Serie A debut! First Chinese player to appear in Serie A!
"Toutiao": What Ma Mingyu couldn't achieve, 18-year-old Tang Long did!
"Sports Weekly": Assist! Key passes! Tang Long helps Inter reverse Genoa!
On Weibo's hot search, Tang Long's name ranked first!
#Tang Long's Serie A debut makes history in Chinese football!
The video of Tang Long's two key passes, with clicks exceeding ten million!
Many veteran Serie A fans were thrilled.
Especially the older fans who fell in love with Inter because of Ronaldo.
When did they ever think, once upon a time, that a Chinese player would wear the Inter jersey and run on the grass of Meazza Stadium?
Never even dreamed of it!
Especially seeing Japan's Yuto Nagatomo, representing Inter in multiple appearances over the years.
The Chinese fans have been heartbroken!
Why are Japanese players able to achieve what we, Chinese players, cannot?
Now, it's good, Tang Long's appearance fills the gap of Chinese players in Serie A!
However, in the video of Tang Long's key pass, the top comments on Weibo were not without chilly remarks, and with the rising popularity, occupied the top four hot comments.
"I don't understand football, but it's obvious, this assist was clearly a fluke kick, just lucky it got to a teammate's feet, right?"
"Haha, it's typical of the men's soccer team, really? Even our female footballers could play better individually!"
"Come on, accidental events being hailed as Inter's savior? Anything for attention, eh?"
"I watched the whole replay, to be honest, Tang Long was completely isolated from the team's overall play, his current level doesn't even qualify for the Inter first team. I heard a rumor that Tang Long's appearance was just Mancini's pawn in the locker room struggle."
...
Mancini sat at the office computer.
Playing back over and over the recently concluded Serie A match.
This is his habit, the day after the match, no matter how tired, he always spends three hours reviewing with his assistant coach Herrera.
Summarizing experiences and lessons, setting correction targets.
From coaching for so many years, this has become a good habit for Mancini and is a testament to his professional ethics.
But this match against Genoa.
In the review, Mancini and assistant coach Herrera had a huge disagreement!
The point of conflict was Tang Long.
Assistant coach Herrera thought Tang Long was completely isolated from the team's tactics, and even in the youth team, he wasn't a starter, with no need to stay in the first team.
"Head coach, I don't understand what we're debating about with this player Tang, we all see clearly his competence isn't on par with his teammates, we can't keep him in the first team just because he luckily assisted, it's a waste of the first team's registration slot!"
Mancini disagreed.
Regarding Herrera's words, he only agreed halfway.
"Indeed, Tang's skills don't match the first team; I know this better than you.
But I not only want to keep him in the first team, I also want to give him a first-team professional player contract!"
Huh?
Herrera was stunned!
Giving Tang Long a first-team contract?
Crazy!
This probably isn't even something Tang Long could have imagined.
Of course, Mancini also provided his reasoning.
"Herrera, you've been with me since the Turkish Super League, you should mature more, you need to know that in the world of football, it's never just about playing games so simply.
Was Gualin confronting me in public just a coincidence? Why did I suppress Gualin? To maintain control of the locker room!
But, is there only one Gualin in the locker room?
Icardi, Kovacic, Alvarez, and Mvilla, are these players obedient kids with a little sweet talk?
The world changes quickly; today's players are not the same as ten years ago. They are inherently rebellious persons, with millions of euros in salary, millions of followers on social media, and are the focal points in their respective countries for every move they make; their mentalities have long been inflated!
Indeed, swapping Tang in for Gualin was a bold gamble, but we won it in the end, didn't we?"
Mancini brushed his gray hair.
Then lit a cigarette, puffing and exhaling clouds.
"I not only want to keep Tang in the first team; every match he will be in the substitute list, sitting on the sideline!
This kid's presence is to prove to everyone on the first team that if anyone dares to defy me, I will immediately replace you with a young player who has never played a professional match——in Inter Milan, no one is irreplaceable!"
Hearing this, assistant coach Herrera nodded slightly.
He roughly understood.
Mancini wants to use Tang Long as an extension of his willpower.
"But Boss, why does it have to be him, isn't it better to use another youth player, Leno has many hopeful stars under him."
"No, it has to be Tang! Because his skill level is low, the worse he is, the greater his significance in the locker room."
Herrera's eyes lit up, giving Mancini a thumbs-up.
"Boss, your skill in managing personnel is truly professional!"