Monza is one of the most media-famous teams in recent years. In 2018, Fininvest fully acquired the team, then playing in Serie C, for around 3 million euros and, most importantly, appointed Adriano Galliani as CEO. Thus, the Berlusconi-Galliani duo, which for years made AC Milan fans dream, was reunited, now giving hope to Monza supporters. Indeed, after a relatively smooth four-year journey and transfer campaigns in the lower leagues enviable even to Serie A teams, Monza reached the top tier for the first time in its history. 

Galliani confirmed Giovanni Stroppa as head coach and began assembling a squad aimed at securing a comfortable survival or even something more. Approximately 20 million euros were spent to build a team with a precise vision dictated by Berlusconi: a young, Italian, and competitive squad. With signings like Pessina, Sensi, Caprari, Petagna, and many others, an eleven began to emerge, composed of experienced and skilled players accustomed to the tactical demands of the Italian league. In short, the newly promoted side had excellent prospects, and in addition to its fans, a large group of sympathizers formed around the team due to the excitement generated. 

After a hard-fought victory in the Coppa Italia against Frosinone, Torino, a hopeful and challenging opponent led by coach Juric, visited the Brianteo. Monza lost 2-1, possibly leaving too much depth and space between the lines to a team whose offensive strategy thrives on such gaps. 

In the following matches, five defeats and a draw exposed difficulties Stroppa had already shown in Serie A with Crotone. Giovanni Stroppa, an Italian coach born in 1968, was in his third Serie A stint, having achieved promotion twice before with Crotone. He is considered a promotion specialist. His typical setup, a 3-5-2, emphasizes ball possession, wing play, and consistent presence in the opponent’s half. In possession, the central defender in the back three dictates the tempo and orchestrates ball circulation, the wide center-backs spread out, the wing-backs push forward, and midfielders exploit spaces between the opponent’s midfield and defense. However, this formation, as seen with Crotone, proved perhaps too offensive for Serie A. With the league’s higher pace, the delay in midfielders and wing-backs retreating after losing possession left vast spaces in Monza’s formation, which teams in the top division exploited ruthlessly. 

Consequently, after five defeats, a draw, and 14 goals conceded, the relationship between Monza and Stroppa came to an end, leading to a casting call for his replacement. Many names were considered, including De Zerbi and Ranieri, but Berlusconi and Galliani ultimately opted for a less predictable solution: promoting Primavera coach Raffaele Palladino. 

This decision surprised many Monza and neutral fans. Entrusting a young coach with no Serie A experience to manage a team embroiled in a relegation battle—was it the right move? Adriano Galliani vouched for Palladino, stating that “he has the makings of a great coach,” not a recommendation to be taken lightly. Thus, Raffaele Palladino, born in 1984, took charge of Monza’s volatile bench, facing a daunting challenge: a match against Juventus the following Sunday. 

Regarding his coaching style, Palladino mentioned in his first press conference that he draws inspiration from Gasperini and Juric, his former coach and teammate, respectively. Their high-pressing, high-intensity approach has proven successful in Serie A. 

What has Palladino brought to the table?

First, enthusiasm, bolstered by his first Serie A experience. Then, mental and defensive stability. Being very young (38 years old), nearly the same age as the players, and recently retired from playing, he has fostered a close, almost collegial environment, earning the players’ full trust. Moreover, by continuing with a formation similar to the one Stroppa had used for two years, Palladino found already established principles, particularly for the three-man defense. 

What changed?

He transitioned from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3, sidelining Stroppa’s loyal players (Marrone and Molina) and opting for an experienced three-man defense and a striker who acts more as a penalty-area target man than one who roams across the front line. The main changes, however, were on the flanks. On the left, promising talent Carlos Augusto, who Stroppa often used as a central defender, moved forward, while on the right, Birindelli was replaced by Ciurria, a left-footed attacking winger deployed in an unfamiliar position to enable inverted crosses. 

It was precisely this combination of initial enthusiasm and tactical adjustments that led Monza to its first historic Serie A victory against Juventus. How? With a 1-0 win, courtesy of a goal from a penalty-area striker (Gytkjaer) assisted by an inverted-foot cross from Ciurria. 

Visionary or not, Palladino managed to uplift Monza players during a dark period, injecting the vital energy essential for any team, especially one battling relegation. Will it continue? Adriano Galliani assures us it will. 

By Tavella Pietro

An extraordinary result for the 2001-born, that shakes up the world rankings and fills Italian tennis with pride

Milan, October 4^th, 2023. The prestigious tennis tournament China Open, which took place in Beijing, concludes today with the astonishing victory of the Italian Jannik Sinner.

For Jannik Sinner, this tournament served as a reaffirmation of his talent, leading him to the top of the international podium. He achieved this by defeating the formidable Russian player, Daniil Medvedev, who is currently ranked as the world No. 3 in singles by the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals). Sinner secured victory in straight sets, 7-6(2) 7-6(2), marking his first-ever career win over the Russian. This victory marked Sinner’s 9^th career title, the second ATP 500 title since his triumph in Washington in 2021, and the third within the calendar year.

The match, lasting 2 hours and 1 minute, was intensely competitive, offering no room for rest. Both players had their chances, with Medvedev taking the initiative initially. However, the Italian, born in 2001, defended himself admirably. Sinner took control with a dominant tie-break, leading 5-0 and eventually winning 7-2, securing the first set. In the second set, the situation remained tense. Medvedev had to work hard to fend off three break opportunities from the Italian. The match concluded with another tie-break, and Sinner found himself in a situation similar to the set before, winning 7-2.

Jannik Sinner emerged as the winner of the 2023 ATP 500 Chinese tournament in Beijing.

In this perfect week, the Italian celebrates yet another significant achievement: after defeating the Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 2) in the semifinals, Jannik Sinner will rise to the rank of world No. 4 in the ATP rankings from Monday onwards. This position was last held by the illustrious Adriano Panatta back in 1976. In response to this milestone, Panatta was interviewed and stated, “Now, when he will surpass me, because he surely will, I say already now that I will be even more happy, so best wishes to Sinner and best wishes to Italian tennis“.

By Maddalena Loro

The wait is almost over: it’s time for the 2023 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), and the Italian teams are ready to take the court in their quest to win the trophy. There are many new elements ahead of this eagerly awaited tournament, with plenty of confirmations and surprises among the selections. The women’s tournament will begin on May 30, while the men’s competition will start on June 6.

The Italian men’s national team, currently the world champion, is set to take the court with a squad of 30 players, many of whom are emerging young talents. Coach Ferdinando De Giorgi is relying on a team that has dominated world volleyball over the past two seasons, but there are also some new faces, including the debut of Alessandro Bovolenta, who played for Consar Ravenna in Serie A2 last season. Of course, there are also some confirmed players: World Cup MVP Simone Giannelli, a pillar of the national team for several years; young talents such as Alessandro Michieletto, Yuri Romanò, Daniele Lavia, and many others. The competition will begin in Ottawa, Canada, followed by Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and finally Pasay City in the Philippines.

As for the women’s national team, reigning champions and bronze medalists at the last World Championships, Coach Davide Mazzanti has decided to follow the same approach as De Giorgi, focusing on young talents who could have great potential for the future. Among these new talents is Rebecca Piva, an outside hitter from VBC Casalmaggiore, born in 2001, but the real big surprise is the opposite from Savino Del Bene Scandicci, Ekaterina Antropova: her Italian citizenship has officially been granted! There are also important confirmations, such as the return of Paola Egonu, who will return to the national team at the first available opportunity after her well-known statements at the end of the last World Championships. Mazzanti’s girls will start in Antalya, Turkey, then move to Asia, with stops in Hong Kong (China) and Bangkok (Thailand).

In short, there is a lot of anticipation for the two Italian national teams. We can only wait and cheer for our blues, hoping they can show their true worth and bring home important victories.

by Hu Zhuohao

On Saturday, May 13, at Via Calabiana 6 in Milan, the now-famous University Festival organized and directed by University Network took place. This event is increasingly famous and renowned, the largest university gathering in the country, and the first attempt to combine networking, innovation, discovery, and entertainment in a single day and location!

Among the various opportunities offered by the Festival to us students was the chance to attend conferences with famous figures from the worlds of art, fashion, innovation, and especially sports.

The opening panel could not have been stronger or more engaging, titled “Living Through Sports: How to Turn a Dream into Reality.” The panel featured four protagonists from the world of sports who have been able to turn their careers in sports into a reality. These included Sky Sport journalist and reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, the sports, tourism, and youth policies councilor for the Municipality of Milan Martina Riva, former footballer and current President of the Technical Sector of the FIGC Demetrio Albertini, and the Innovation Manager for Juventus Football Club Carolina Chiappero. The moderator’s role was entrusted to the well-known influencer Himorta. Each of us, as children, dreamed and believed we could have a life in the world of sports, whether as a football player or a tennis player, or perhaps as a journalist; the title of this panel brought us back to those days when that desire was strong in all of us, showing us that it is possible to make it a reality.

After an opening thank-you to Martina Riva, as a representative of the Municipality of Milan, for allowing the creation of such a well-attended event, and her statements expressing strong support for us young people, our training, and our involvement because the world is the future and we are the future, the panel officially began.

The first guest to be involved by Himorta was former Milan player Demetrio Albertini, who shared how his dream of becoming a footballer was born when he took his first steps and how, thanks to sacrifice and luck, he was able to break into such a complicated world, ultimately having a career envied by many. Albertini presented his life as something characterized by the number 17, as his career as a footballer began at 17, ended after another 17 years, and now he has been in a managerial role for 17 years. He highlighted how the two positions he has occupied are opposites, particularly in how he entered this second world without having completed the necessary studies, initially facing difficulties that were overcome successfully until he became President of the FIGC Technical Sector. He pointed out that in the world of sports, there are numerous figures such as athletes or coaches, but very few managers, encouraging us to pursue our dream of working in sports through this alternative path.

Next, Gianluca Di Marzio spoke about the “difficulties a child can encounter” due to the repeated relocation from city to city because of his parents’ work (his father was a football coach). Di Marzio shared how, in his case, the pros outweighed the cons. He was able to experience different realities and cultures, living in both northern and southern Italy, and this acquired knowledge proved very useful for his future. He also encouraged us to be enterprising, to study, to think about building strong foundations for our future, but not to neglect the spirit of initiative and curiosity, which can be crucial for achieving our dreams. When asked about the most beautiful moment of his career as a journalist, he mentioned the interview he conducted with Diego Armando Maradona in 2016.

Following this, Carolina Chiappero took the floor to share her career and how she entered the global brand Nike, which allowed her to work as a partner for Juventus Football Club. However, after the contractual relationship between Nike and Juventus ended, the club strongly wanted to retain the group of managers who had worked through Nike, including Carolina. She also showed how sport is not just what we witness during matches or games — that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as underneath, there are thousands of people working to create brands and innovation.

Finally, Martina Riva spoke about the issues that an institution like a municipality must handle daily. She does not work directly in the world of sports, but as it should be, the city of Milan cares deeply about sports. She reminded us of the great effort the city is putting into the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, now only 1000 days away.

Following an intervention from one of our association members, a lively debate opened up about the sport/business relationship, as our Filippo presented the issue as a concern about what might happen to the world of sports with the unstoppable rise of business. The guests believed the issue was not about stifling the wave but rather that football is business, and sport is business. We must be able to equip ourselves and immerse ourselves in this duality and make the right trade-off. Di Marzio encouraged us once again to innovate and invent something to stand out because this business side of sports should help us, not hinder us.

The panel then concluded. It was a great experience, very encouraging and full of emotion. Listening to people who have managed to make sports their life is not something you experience every day, and it keeps the flame of hope alive in us. After all, dreams are made to be realized.

by Christian Coppola

With just over a month to go until the end of the leagues and all the European football competitions, the international stage seems to have been dominated by Italian football, surpassing the economic giant of the Premier League, with five teams making it to the semifinals of European competitions. However, the international scene is also being stolen by the usual end-of-season rumors surrounding important transfer news for the upcoming summer window, from luxurious “free agents” to the ongoing stories of Messi and Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, while Manchester City and Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich fight to claim the English and German crowns, other leagues seem to be seeing their first verdicts.

Xavi’s Barcelona is drawing ever closer to its 27th La Liga title, a triumph that feels more like a guiding light amid the storm that the blaugrana have been navigating in recent years due to massive financial issues and a truly dire financial situation. But the real dream for Barça seems to be in Paris, where President Laporta hopes to bring back the World Cup winner with Argentina. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, a romantic return for Leo Messi seems less unrealistic, provided the club’s economic plan is approved by La Liga, thus allowing Messi’s registration. For now, Messi seems to be reluctant to accept the huge offer from PSG’s Qatari owners, waiting instead for an offer that could bring him back to Camp Nou, where the star probably feels more comfortable, away from the boos he often received at Parc des Princes. But the latest news surrounding Messi’s two-week suspension due to an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia for a promotional event seems to mark the end of a relationship that was never truly formed between the Argentine star and the Parisian club.

On the other side of the Pyrenees, while PSG are heading toward a title that leaves a bitter taste, not forgetting the five-point gap from Igor Tudor’s Marseille, despite the usual summer market expected from Sheikh Al-Khelaïfi and the extraordinary Neymar-Messi-Mbappé attacking trio, the Champions League seems to be nothing more than a distant dream. Once again, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich. As a result, the club is facing massive fan protests, creating a tense atmosphere, particularly with the near-permanent rupture with Messi. “No one respects you anymore.” “Leave.” These are some of the banners raised by the Ultras Paris. Once again, everything must be rebuilt for PSG.

Finally, in the streets of Naples and its surroundings, the excitement is at its peak as they count down the hours to finally sew the third scudetto onto the Azzurri’s chest since the days of Maradona. The 33-year wait has been extended by a few more days after Dia’s dramatic goal in the 84th minute, but the people of Naples are now counting the minutes until Thursday evening’s match against Udinese to begin the historic celebrations. Spalletti’s team, which started the season under the radar after a summer market that didn’t raise expectations, will win their third scudetto with great merit. This achievement is the result of perfect synergy between the coach, the team, the club, and, of course, the Neapolitan supporters, who have been painting the streets of the Spanish Quarters in blue for months, waiting for the big moment.

Turning to international competitions, the tricolore proudly returns to Europe, with a Milanese team definitely reaching the final against one of the giants, Real Madrid or Manchester City. Juventus and Roma dream of meeting in a magical European night in Budapest on May 31, while Fiorentina, despite a challenging league campaign, will fight to keep the Conference League trophy in Italy.

Italian football is achieving an important revenge, thanks to significant investments from clubs, strategies, and projects that start from the grassroots, meticulously cultivating details from youth sectors to future stadium projects – like those of the Milanese clubs, Roma, and Fiorentina – while working to elevate the Italian football system, which has been without two consecutive World Cups and is in desperate need of a deep revival to relive nights like those at Wembley. The path is long, especially compared to other leagues, but through conscious and careful management by clubs, important investments funded by private individuals, and the government supporting the football industry in difficult times, Italian football is ready to reclaim the international spotlight. Starting from the grassroots, with the passion of young people playing the sport on the streets, the sentiment of supporters filling the stands every weekend, financially sustainable clubs, and certainly from this fruitful season, the Italian football system seems to be on the right path to shine again in Europe and worldwide.

By Luca D’Addario

• Milan doesn’t want to stop: now they dream of the final!
• Piacenza tries the comeback again!

Tension is at an all-time high in the 2022/2023 Men’s SuperLega A1 season. In these decisive days and in the coming weeks, we will find out which two teams will make it to the final and compete for the coveted scudetto of the Italian championship.

Last week, an exciting chapter of the Superlega A1 Men’s league came to an end, with the quarterfinals leaving volleyball fans holding their breath until the very last moment. Trento was the first to secure their spot in the next phase, but the real spectacle was provided by Civitanova, Piacenza, and Milan, who fought in an epic series that went to Game 5 to decide the winners.

The reigning champions of Civitanova had to sweat until the end against a young but tenacious Verona, which showed they would never give up. Piacenza also found themselves in a difficult position, down 0-2 in the series against the new CEV CUP champions, Modena, but they also managed an incredible comeback and advanced to the semifinals.

The surprise of this first phase of the Scudetto Playoffs was undoubtedly Milan, which reached a historic semifinal for the club, eliminating Perugia from the Scudetto race. Despite a first half of the season below expectations, Milan had finished only eighth in the regular season, barely making it into the playoffs. However, Milan managed to make a significant leap in their game in the final phase of the regular season and found balance in their team, eventually winning the long and fiercely contested series against Perugia, which ended 3-2 with a 3-1 final victory.

But it seems that Milan has no intention of stopping: in the semifinals, in their series against the reigning champions Cucine Civitanova Lube, Powervolley Milano leads 2-1 after a convincing away win in Game 3. On Saturday, April 22, they will have the first chance to close the series!

Also, on the third day of the semifinal playoffs, Piacenza caught up with Trento, who had been leading 2-0 in the series, with a 3-0 victory. Will the Piacenza team be able to pull off another incredible comeback like they did in the quarterfinals? Milan, now fully aware of their potential, with the opportunity to play Game 4 at home, will they be able to deliver a decisive victory for their fans and reach the final? We just have to wait and see!

By Hu Zhuhao

History repeats itself. What has happened in this season’s Champions League so far is truly unexpected. Because no one, at the beginning of the European campaign, would have thought that Italian teams would stand out by reaching a Champions League final.

And destiny is also mocking. Italian teams in Europe are shining, despite the fact that the first matches of the group stages didn’t give much hope. An Inter team that lost immediately on the first matchday against Bayern Munich 2-0, a Juventus team that barely made it to third place after losing 5 out of 6 group stage matches, ending up with the same points as Maccabi Haifa, and a Milan team that started quietly but managed to finish second in their group.

Speaking of the Europa League, Roma finished second in their group behind Betis Sevilla, a team that was definitely beatable, while Lazio failed to get past the group stage against Feyenoord and Midtjylland. Finally, Fiorentina couldn’t top their group in the Conference League against a mediocre Istanbul Basaksehir.

But like in the best action movies, when the situation starts to get interesting, the champions emerge. What no one believed at the start of the European campaign were two things: first, the level of the players in the Italian teams competing in Europe, who seemed, especially in the Champions League, to be of a lower level compared to the other teams, and second, the low regard for the level of Italian football, perhaps thought to be too uncompetitive for European rhythms, showing weaknesses, particularly the lack of new star players. In fact, if you look at the numbers, this year Serie A spent €749.2 million, compared to £2.24 billion in the Premier League, with no purchases appearing in the top 10 most expensive transfers of the season (a list dominated by the Premier League and especially Chelsea, with Real Madrid’s Tchouameni as the only “intruder”).

Moreover, there was little confidence in this season’s signings. First, Milan, which spent a lot on a player who has yet to prove his full worth, Charles De Keteleare. In fact, the team remained the same as the previous season’s winning squad. Inter could again rely on Lukaku, who was injured right from the start, while they had to do without Ivan Perisic. Juventus had strengthened a lot but had lost Paulo Dybala, who went to Mourinho’s Roma. Roma, in fact, seemed to be the only team truly reinforced by the market, but perhaps not enough to compete all the way to the end. Fiorentina had bought Jovic, a player who has so far delivered little, while Lazio had basically remained the same. And finally, Napoli: a completely different team from previous years, with all the flags sent away, in a year when they lost Insigne, Mertens, Koulibaly, and Fabian Ruiz, they managed to have the best market in Europe, although expectations at the beginning of the year were low.

Yet, today, there are 5 Italian teams out of the 7 original participants still in the European semifinals. A fantastic result that rewards the quality of Italian football, certainly in strong development compared to previous years. And the best news is the awareness that at least one Milan team will make it to the final. After 20 years since the last time. Inter-Milan, an eternal rivalry, will make the next 6 days in Milan the hottest in years. From the last semifinal clash between Cuper and Ancelotti, where the Rossoneri came out victorious, many things have changed: first, with the new rules eliminating the away goal, the match would have gone to extra time. Moreover, compared to back then, the main points of contact are Paolo Maldini and Javier Zanetti. The first, now a Rossoneri director, led a defense that, in the three previous meetings before the return semifinal, had never conceded a goal to the Nerazzurri, and a very young Oba Oba Martins was seen running past him from behind, such was the tension of the moment. The second, Javier, had failed to convert a spectacular opportunity in the first leg, in a match where Milan was overtly defensive, as evidenced by President Berlusconi’s outbursts in the locker room at halftime, criticizing Ancelotti for not allowing his players to play more offensively.

Twenty years later, the two teams are no longer even in the same European league, belonging to different groups of foreign countries, but the magic of the Euroderby still seems the same.

Juventus is awaiting their clash with Sevilla, the kings of the cup, while Roma will face Bayer Leverkusen, and the hope of all fans, including former Polish striker Boniek, is for an Italian final, the second in a row for Mourinho’s Roma. Fiorentina will meet Basel, in a challenge that could allow them to reach a magical and historic final for the Viola squad.

The hope is that this moment will continue for a long time, but what all Italian fans can now wish for is at least one Italian team in the final of each European cup (if not four, Juventus or Roma permitting). The rest, as we know, is still to be written.

By Spampinato Antonio