2010 - Expectations from the New Decade!

The last decade which saw both the highest highs and the lowest lows in Italian football is now behind us. I look ahead to the expectations from the current decade for the Italians.

A Return To The Top

Ever since the Calciopoli scandal erupted in 2006, Italian football has been in a downward spiral on the European stage. Milan's Champions League victory in 2007 was an exception and by no means the rule.

A decade ago, Serie A was considered to be the most daunting league amongst Europe but now it languishes far behind the English and the Spanish ones. The best crop of players are leaving the peninsula to ply their trade elsewhere.

This was no more evident than last summer when Kaka and Ibrahimovic both moved to Spain. It has been a long time since an Italian team captured a big name and that must change if it is to get more recognition.

The fortunes in Europe must also change if Italy is to become feared again.This year Milan take on United and Inter face Chelsea, if the Milanese are to overcome them it would deliver a great statement for Serie A.



Better Security

The previous decade witnessed a rather disturbing rise in the number of violence related incidents in and around stadia. Numerous instances of fan clashes and police clashes took place around the country to further damage the reputation of the game.

The worst case was the shooting of Gabriele Sandri by the police who mistook the Lazio fan for a miscreant. The killing led to several protests and forced the postponement of one round of footballing action.

There was also the 'rain of flares' which took place during the Milan-Inter game during the 2005 Champions League quarterfinal. That forced the match to be abandoned and resulted in Inter getting a three game home ban.

In recent months there have been growing concerns about racism as Mario Balotelli has been subjected to various levels of racist abuse by the fans. Juventus fans in particular have been the instigators of such abuse repeatedly.

Better Stadia

Over the past few years the quality of stadiums in Italy has also steadily deteriorated. The venues in and around the country are still the ones from Italia'90.

They are thus in serious need of renovation and reconstruction. Most of the stadia are owned by the local town councils and not by the clubs themselves.

Juventus is set to be the first club to have its own stadium which they are due to move in to by 2012. Similarly, Inter have also made positive noises of moving to a private venue away from the San Siro.

As the Italians are bidding to boost their image an overhaul of the main venues will most certainly be welcome. Better stadia will naturally bring in better security and allow games to be held in a family atmosphere once again.



A New Generation of Superstars

The current crop of Italian youngsters seems to be a highly talented lot. Despite Lippi looking likely to take most of the 2006 squad with him to South Africa, the youth should not be let down.

In Sebastian Giovinco, Mario Balotelli, Davide Santon, Paolo De Ceglie, the future of the La Nazionale looks secure. The only problem for these young guns is that their managers do not provide them with enough playing time.

Giovinco in particular will feel highly aggrieved as the boy has made all the right moves but is still without a regular role at Juventus. Davide Santon who burst on to the scene as the new Maldini last year has made only 5 appearances this year.

The problem which the Italians may face is that these youngsters may look to go abroad in search of more playing time. Already there are rumors linking Balotelli with a move to Arsenal and more recently Roberto Mancini's Manchester City.



No More Controversies

This would definitely be the final yet most important wish from the fans of the Calcio. This decade will be remembered as much for Italy's World Cup triumph as for the match-fixing scandal.

As mentioned earlier Calciopoli ate in to the Serie A's competitiveness and distanced viewers. Now with the decade over, one would hope that we have heard the last of such controversies in the Italian game.

There is still noise being made by Luciano Moggi and a few others about Inter's involvement in the whole scandal. Despite the court's rejecting all such claims there are still many in the peninsua who believe that Massimo Moratti may have spearheaded the whole sting.

If Italy is to truly come out of the defamation of Calciopoli it will have to work extra hard to ensure that such controversies don't arise anymore. The desire of every fan is the same - to have a clean, fair and competitive Serie A.

Serie A Mid-Season Review: Milan

Milan have had yet another unsatisfying campaign so for as the team has failed to consistently get the results. But considering the fact that many labelled this Milan side as the worst in 25 years, Leonardo will be pleased with hi team

For the past few years I have watched Inter dominate Serie A while their city rivals Milan seem to be idling their time away. A sole Scudetto in the last ten years is just not good enough for a team which won five in the preceding decade.

Milan started off the campaign by making huge news in the transfer market but this time it was a departure which caught everyone's attention. Kaka after years of pledging loyalty to the club became the first member of the 'Nou Galacticos' at Real Madrid.

But Berlusconi had financial reasons for the sale and hence greedily kept aside all the money that was earned from it. In typical Milan fashion, the scouts went looking for old beat-up players and the likes of Oguchi Onyewu joined the side.

Milan's transfer dealings were probably the worst ever in my memory. The team made just one more notable purchase that of the good-for-nothing Huntelaar. In fact Berlusconi's pocket strings were so tight that one could see the outline of his tigh in the summer.

So quite predictably the season got off to a disastrous start as Milan were trashed 4-0 by Inter on Matchday 2. And quite frankly if it hadn't been for their keeper, Storari, it might have been six or seven.

The Grim Reaper soon started performing a frantic dance over coach Leonardo's head after the team registered just two wins in their first seven games. The already old Milan squad looked even older and the wrinkles kept increasing on everyone's faces.

The Turnaround

And then something miraculous happened. The oft-used cliche of every disaster movie actually came true as Milan found true strength in their worst moment. A loss to FC Zurich at the San Siro in the Champions League served to awake the team from its slumber.

In phoenix-like fashion the Rossoneri managed to somehow defeat Real Madrid away from home in Europe. The game was more exceptional because the team had produced nothing in the first half but still went on to win 3-2.

This period also marked the return of the error-prone Brazilian keeper Dida. But this was no usual return as in keeping up with the THIS IS NOT HAPPENING theme, he produced one brilliant performance after another.



The Grim Reaper was soon replaced by Cupid as everyone seemed to be happy and joyous at Milanello again. Ronaldinho was smiling and for once it was not just after a missed opportunity. The old squad had under gone some serious botox treatment.

Milan won 7 of their 8 games in the Serie A and climbed to within 4 points of leaders Inter. However, the honeymoon ended all of a sudden with an unexpected loss to Palermo at home.

That game would have scared Leonardo a bit as Milan's deficiencies were exposed in a way my cavities would be at a dentist's. Their final game of the campaign was called off as the pitch at Fiorentina was deemed more suitable for skiing than football.

Post Christmas

The break gives Milan's golden oldies a chance to recuperate their depleted energy stocks. Talking about golden reminds me that 'Golden Balls' David Beckham has rejoined Milan till the end of the season.

The former England captain should give the Rossoneri an option they previously lacked that of using the flanks. Alongwith him another Ghanian wonderkid, Dominic Adiyiah, is all set to join in the winter.

Almost the entire world would have heard of Beckham as well as not heard of Adiyiah. Adiyiah is basically this freakishly talented youngster who led Ghana to the U-20 World Cup. And he is not heard to be as arrogant as Balotelli.



However I believe that these additions are by no means enough for the team, particularly if they are to get past Manchester United. The right-back position is almost vacant in the lineup as the symbol of mediocrity, Massimo Oddo, occupies it.

Similarly even at left-back Zambrotta has lost all the pace he was once gifted with to make any impact for his side. It may be impossible to get two world class full backs but someone like Philipp Lahm will definitely be welcome.

To conclude I feel Leonardo can be pleased with the showing of his team thus far and hope things continue in the same vein in the new year.

SerieA Mid-Season Review: Inter

In typical fashion of every site I decide to look back at the season so far for all the top teams. Predictably I start off the series with league leaders Inter.

Inter's campaign this year has been... ROUTINE. Anyone who has seen the Italian champions play over the past few years would not be surprised at the current season.

When speculations of Ibra departing emerged in July, I must admit my heart sank like the Titanic. Ibra was a devastating player and for the past three years Inter solely depended on the Swede.

So frankly I was not impressed when his move was finalised and we had Eto'o joining the team. Though the Cameroonian is a brilliant player it seemed like trading an Armani suit for a Marks & Spencer one.

Milito was another of those Tesco high-value additions and Lucio was the best deal available in Camden market. However, these incoming players still lacked a playmaker and for the first time in years Inter bought one in the form of Wesley Sneijder.

Who for me was undoubtedly the buy of the season. When Sneijder plays Inter always seem competitive at the top level and in his absence they have at times looked like the team of five years ago.

In fact his arrival in Milan was marked by the 4-0 drubbing Inter handed to their city rivals AC. And since then the Dutchman has gone from strength to strength.

The Campaign

As described earlier Inter's season has been very run-of-the-mill stuff which translates to successful for the Nerazzuri. Apart from the game against Sampdoria, Inter have impressed in most of their games.

Ibra's loss hasn't proved to be at all catastrophic. My fears and those of the million other fans have been silenced by the Tesco man.

Diego Milito showed that even the best scouts and transfer gurus can easily miss spotting talent despite it being in their faces. Milito was a renowned goal poacher and he has continued in the same vein here.

Milito's supreme instincts have propelled him to the top of the goalscoring charts once again. And surprisingly he has outperformed even Eto'o on the frontlines.

In the middle of the park Stankovic, Cambiasso and Zanetti have been as consistent as ever. They may not impress in every game but at times continuity is more essential than spurts of brilliance.

Lucio and Walter Samuel have become the new Bonnie & Clyde for Inter in defence. It is strange how an Argentinean and Brazilian can think on the same page and that too at the back.

The only issue has been at left back for the team. Maicon is a bloody box of energy on the right flank but the left one is filled in by the dormant Chivu. No blame attached to him though as he is technically a center back.

Other Boring Stuff

Well as this is a review I have to make the over-talked mention of Inter's European form which has been poor once again. The Nerazzuri have been ROUTINE even there as everyone is accustomed to their struggles in the Champions League.

This year it came with reason though as the team was drawn in a tough group. But that should never be an excuse for their low quality of play at times.

I will say that this was again down to the absence of Sneijder in certain key matches. The Dutchman is as important to Inter as stupid comments for Silvio Berlusconi.

However, now Inter are through to the last 16 and they come up against Chelsea in a terribly hyped encounter. The previous two years have seen Inter go out to English opposition, so will this be three?

Mourinho who has had his fair share of trouble dealing with the press will look to alter this streak. Though no one will blame him if he lingers on in London for some more time after the game.

To conclude I would like to say that this season will again by defined by Inter's European conquest or the lack of it. The Serie A looks like its already won so it will be in the Champions League where they will be tested.

Mancini To ManCity

Source : Wikipedia Commons

Roberto Mancini was announced as the new manager of Manchester City after Mark Hughes was fired in the wake of a poor run of form. The Italian has a huge task in front of him as he needs to live up to massive expectations, but is he up to it?

When Roberto Mancini left Inter in the summer of 2008, he departed with a bitter taste in his mouth. President Massimo Moratti had assured him that his job was safe despite Mancini having announced his resignation earlier in the season.

A stung Mancini refused to terminate his contract and for the whole of last season Moratti was bankrolling two managers for the services of one. Now that Mancini has finally found another job he will welcome the opportunity to silence his Italian critics.

Mancini's time in Italy will always be best remembered for the Calciopoli scandal. His achievements with the Nerazzuri were labelled by many as unsatisfactory due to the weakening of the other teams.

But as an Inter fan I can safely say that Roberto Mancini for all his personality flaws is a great manager. Before his stint at Inter, Mancini had led Lazio and Fiorentina to Coppa Italia glory despite both teams being the underdogs.

His start at the Inter bench was a mixed one as the team lost only twice in the whole season but also drew eighteen times. Many will remember that as the year when Inter played truly entertaining football.



Tri Scudetti

The next year Inter again finished third as they lost at crucial points of the season. However, the Calciopoli scandal saw the Scudetto being assigned to Inter and thus giving Mancini his first championship.

More importantly Inter benefitted through the purchase of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Viera from Juventus. That season Inter set numerous records as the team won the championship by a massive 22 points.

However, Inter's European fortunes did not change as the team once again lost out in the Round of 16 this time to unfancied Valencia. Moreover, Inter's failure in Europe was seen by many as Mancini's failure as a coach.

The next season things got more dramatic as Inter threw away a 8 point lead in the league and had to fret till the last day to win the title. But once again, Inter's European failure was in the spotlight.

Mancini had quite spectacularly announced his intention of resigning after Inter had lost the knockout fixture against Liverpool. His declaration came out of the blue and shocked everyone including the president.

Despite Mancini later rescinding his comments huge question marks loomed over his future in Milan. So the announcement of his firing came as little surprise to most but Mancini himself.

Job At Eastlands

Mancini has been thrown into the thick of the action straight away. The New Year period will see his side play almost twice every week so the results will have to be brisk.

He has injuries to look at as Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott both maybe out for a period of time to add to City's defensive woes. We are talking about a side here which has shipped in nine goals in its last three fixtures alone.

So this has been highlighted by Mancini as his first area of action. Furthermore, there will have to be a few changes in the midfield as well. Mancio likes playing with a tough-tackling central midfielder someone who City lack.

So a move for a defensive midfielder in the January transfer window looks to be on the cards. Watch out for Matthew Upson of West Ham movin to Manchester, he fits the bill and has admitted he may be close to quitting London.

Also similar to Sven Goran Eriksson's reign at the club don't be surprised to see a few Italians arriving at City. This time however they may be slightly more high profile than Valeri Bojinov and Rolando Bianchi.

What the City job does for Mancini is to provide an opportunity for him to silence all his critics in Italy. Guiding the Sky Blues to a Top Four finish will most certainly win him the respect of everyone alike.

Barca - A Lesson For The Rest

Source - FCBarcelona.cat

Barcelona's victory at the Club World Cup is a lesson for footballing sides around the world. The Catalans showed calm and composure despite trailing till the second last minute.

There have been only a few sides in club football which have been remembered for ages and ages. The Real team of Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Pushkas, the Inter side of Giancinto Facchetti and Sandro Mazzola, the Busby babes are among the elite.

And now one can add the Barcelona of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi to that list. The Blaugrana won their sixth trophy of the year after beating Estudiantes in the FIFA Club World Cup earlier tonight.

However, what left me amazed was the mentality of the players despite being behind for a majority of the game. Estudiantes had taken the lead in the first half through a Boselli strike and Barca had to wait till the 89th minute for Pedro to score the equalizer.

There have been and will continue to be pages and pages of rhetoric written about Barca's dreamy style of play and their fluid passing. But I for once want to talk about the mentality of the team because I believe that this is their most fearsome quality.

This past year the Barca team faced many pivotal moments which would go on to define their success. And stunningly on each and every occasion it was a true triumph of their determination and character.



Mental Strength

Today this was evident once more as Barca continued to play their usual passing game despite the minutes ticking down on the watch. Many teams would have gone gung-ho in their bid to score the equalizer but the Catalans played the only way they know.

There was no panic in the team, no peppering hopeful balls into the box at every opportunity, no crazy forays and long rangers by any player. It was just the normal, pass-pass-pass till you wear down the opposition.

And this wearing down is not only at a physical level but one at a mental level too. To see a team enjoy as much possession as Barcelona and to do so as if its second nature to them, must be truly debilitating for the opposition's morale.

Barca have seldom had to resort to desperate last-minute tactics as they have conviction that their style of play will yield the right result. It doesn't matter if the team is 1-0 down or 3-0 up they always always stick to their principles.

One of the great examples of this philosophy was evident in Barca's semi-final with Chelsea earlier this year. The Blues were totally dominant in the game and many would feel that they deserved to win the tie.

But despite being outplayed and overrawed by the Londoners, Barcelona stuck to their guns till the last minute even after going a man down. The reward was there for everyone to see, Iniesta's last minute goal setup their Champions League conquest.



The True Artiste

I feel the credit for this mental revolution at the club must go to Pep Guardiola who has infused his no nonsense approach into the players as well. The ex-Barca man has definitely benefitted from being a player not so long ago.

Before Guardiola took over, the club was in part shambles inspite of all the quality they had in their ranks. Two trophyless seasons for a team boasting one of the best rosters in the world was simply unacceptable.

What Pep did was to give a sense of direction to the players. There was only one route to goal and though the tactic may have its cons but on the whole it has been greatly successful.

I cannot exaggerate the importance of having faith in the system you are playing in. Even the greatest players have struggled to find their feet if they are being played in an unfamiliar position. In Barca's case every man knows his duties and his responsibilities.

And this is truly a lesson for all managers and player's alike. There are better chances of success if you can play with the belief that your players and your team can get the result.

With the New Year upon us, this will no doubt go down as the year of Barcelona. Hats off to them! They have truly exemplified their motto 'Barca - Mes Que Un Club' [Barca - More than a club].

Mama Mia! - A Nightmare Draw

The UEFA Champions League draw has been made and things don't look good for the Italians as all teams are paired with high-quality opposition. Inter take on Chelsea, Milan take on Manchester United and Fiorentina face Bayern.

All Italian teams face an uphill task if they are to go beyond the First Knockout Round of the Champions League once again. The three sides from the peninsula got probably the toughest opponents they could have drawn.

SerieA champions Inter have been drawn to face the Premier League leaders Chelsea in what promises to be a cracking encounter. It will mark the return of Jose Mourinho facing his older team and one can expect fireworks.

Inter's crosstown rivals Milan, will be up against Premier Leage holders Manchester United. Milan will be slightly confident about this encounter after having beaten the Red Devils on their way to European success three seasons ago.

Fiorentina, the only Italian group winner, have an equally difficult task as they take on Bayern Munich. Bayern's performance against Juventus last week left everyone stunned and the Viola will have to put their best foot forward to have any chances of advancing.

Inter Vs Chelsea

The first leg of this encounter will take place in Milan and so Chelsea will have a distinct advantage. English teams have proven to be the bane of the Nerazzuri for the past two years, so Mourinho will be keen to avoid yet another early exit from the competition.

The fixture will reunite the 'Special One' with his old club and the sentimental value of the tie will be sky high. It will also renew the rivalry between Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan coach for the past seven years, and Inter just to add to the spectacle.

Chelsea comfortably won their group and were undefeated in the six games. By contrast Inter managed just two wins in their group stages. However, one could put the difference down to the quality of the groups.

Both teams are currently leading their domestic championships and there has been little to suggest they will slip up before the first legs. But as has been all to familiar with the Nerazzuri, domestic success does not necessarily translate into European glory.

The ensemble of stars in the two teams would leave anyone open mouthed. Though Inter may not have the regular household names but in Sneijder, Eto'o, Milito and Balotelli they have a highly formidable side. As for Chelsea their assembly line is packed with the likes of Lampard, Terry, Drogba, Anelka making this an absolutely delectable encounter.

AC Milan Vs Manchester United

Both Milan teams have ensured that the San Siro will be packed with the stature of the opponents they have drawn. Sir Alex's men will travel to Milan for the second year in a row after having faced Inter last year.

One will be able to recollect the same fixture from three seasons back when a Kaka inspired Milan humiliated the Red Devils 3-0. This time however there is no Kaka and Milan's form may gave Man Utd a lot of solace.

But it would be folly to discount Milan as they have already shown their potential in the results over Real Madrid. Milan are the Liverpool of Italy and the European Cup does something to the side so the onus would be on United to take the game to them.

The Red Devils won their group on the last matchday after picking up a win against Wolfsburg. The Rossoneri on the other hand just managed to scrape through their group with an unconvincing draw against FC Zurich.

And this is where the biggest test for Leonardo's team will come. The Milan side have an annoying habit of playing way below par on certian occasions as was witnessed in the 4-0 derby thrashing they got earlier this season.

If Milan are to harbor any hopes of moving forward in this competition they will have to perform out of their socks. If Ronaldinho and Pato can find that deadly touch which is more and more visible these days this may spell the end for United's run.

Bayern Munich Vs Fiorentina

Fiorentina who have had an excellent spell this year were unfortunate to draw the toughest opponents they could have. But the Viola have proved their quality this term and will not be afraid of tackling the Bavarian giants.

Bayern Munich sent a threatening message across the continent after their demolition of Juventus on the final matchday. The team have been reinvented in recent weeks and their strong run in the Bundesliga is evidence of this.

Fiorentina and Bayern locked horns last year in the group stages and the Italians were humbled 4-1 on aggregate. So they would be keen to avoid a similar fate this year, but it must be said the team looks a lot better this time around.

Cesare Prandelli's men haven't had a great start to the domestic season and despite fourth place being in sight they may choose to impress in Europe. The side's European performances have won them many admirers and their Matchday 2 victory over Liverpool was a top notch showing.

If the Viola are to progress further they will need to score in Munich. Bayern are the kind of team who will always find the back of the net so in this case the importance of the away goal will be vital.

The Much Maligned Mourinho

Jose Mourinho's fractious relationship with the Italian media finally broke down at the weekend after he allegedly shoved a journalist. Is it now time for Mourinho to finally adapt to his surroundings or will it serve as the last straw in his Inter tenure?

When Jose Mourinho arrived in the peninsula last summer, journalists were tripping over each other to get a few words from the 'Special One'. His fluent Italian and the use of 'pirla', a Milanese word for fool, in his very first press conference left the media in awe.

But then pretty soon things started going wrong. The honeymoon period was over and the bickering and squabbling kicked off almost immediately. The first sign of a breakup was during the Pietro Lo Monaco incident.

The Catania president was of the belief that Jose "talked too much" after the Portuguese had said his side should have won by five goals. The media is not like a wife it is like the mistress, so they immediately sprang upon this opportunity to blame the tactician.

Things got positively worse from there as Mourinho sent his assistant, Giuseppe Baresi, to talk to the reporters after the Lecce game. Italians are very passionate, as I discussed last time and they took this as a personal snub.

They accused Jose of "lacking respect towards them". But he has always fought fire with fire and hit back at them claiming "they were petty" and disrespectful towards Baresi. The man had a point but within a month there was a clear dislike in the media for Mourinho.

Managerial Tactics

The media soon found a new area to target Mourinho and that were his tactics. Jose had tried using the 4-3-3 system which was successful at Chelsea, with Inter but the team had failed to adapt.

His summer signings of Mancini and particularly Quaresma, for whom Inter shelled out €18 million, were considered as failures. Furthermore, his tactical decisions were subjected to intense debate on all sports shows.

Jose's quickfire tongue made him more enemies than ever. He ended up insulting Ancelotti, Ranieri and Spalletti and thus lost respect even amongst his peers. The Italians were just not used to a frank man speaking straight from the gut.

Inter's failure in the Champions League gave the media all the necessary ammunition to launch another broadside on the manager. They claimed that Mourinho was no better than his predecessor, Roberto Mancini.

So despite Inter winning the championship with a ten point margin in his first season in charge Mourinho was branded as a failure in Italy. According to the press he was just another over-rated manager who had a massive ego.


The Media Blind-Eye

Despite the country-wide Mourinho bashing very little was said about his grooming of youngsters. Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon played brilliantly and the latter was highly impressive towards the end of the season.

How many Italian coaches would have left the responsibility to mark the world's best player in Cristiano Ronaldo to a 18 year old? Not many I am sure. But Mourinho did so and his move paid off as his countryman struggled to make his way past Santon in both the legs.

Mourinho's way of handling Balotelli has been equally commendable as the coach has made his stance clear on multiple occasions. There is no doubt that Mario is a prodigious talent but his personality leaves question marks over whether he would live up to his potential.

This year, the team has moved from being dependent on just a target man and adapted an overall flowing style of football. Inter have the best attack and the defence in the SerieA and credit for that goes as much to Mourinho as to the bunch of players at his disposal.

Mourinho's decision to play with just three defenders and five attackers in the closing stages of the game at Kyiv effectively saved Inter's CL campaign. However, not one Italian paper decided to pay tribute to his tactics and attitude.

But the same papers were quick to tear into Jose after Inter's no-show in the match against European champions Barcelona. Almost every media outlet suggested that Mourinho should quit Inter solely on the basis of the team's performance at Barca.

Here And Now

And then finally came the boiling point on Sunday when Jose insulted Andrea Ramazotti when he was hanging around the team bus. Ramazotti alleged that the Portuguese attacked him and everyone from the Italian Sports Journalist's Union to the league authorities joined hands to blast the manager.

Mourinho was declared guilty even before the trial had got underway. Mo clarified yesterday that the altercation was purely verbal and involved no physical contact.

Even Inter president Massimo Moratti was bemused by this latest incident and has said he will look into it. And thus begins Jose's sternest test in Italy.

Till Sunday Mourinho was safe in the knowledge that his club was behind him but now that may not be the case. Moratti obviously likes the 'Special One' and has leaped to his defence on numerous occasions but this time he has stayed away.

For Moratti too is Italian and knows he risks turning the whole country against his club, if that is not the case already. Inter will know who they face in the Champions League knockout stages on Friday.

And Europe is where Mourinho's destiny will lie. If JoMo is able to inspire Inter in Europe he can expect to be hailed by not only his own team but surely by the media as well. But shall he fail again, don't be surprised to see him booking the next flight out of Milan.