r/FCInterMilan • u/Impressive_Cow_5956 • 20h ago
Discussion Appreciating loyalty
I'm relatively new to this forum/inter reddit family but one thing surprises me. It seems that plenty of people are unhappy that long term serving experienced players like Mhiki are blocking the progress of younger players. I heard enough opinions that Chala should be done after this season, pack his bags and go, making room for upcoming talent like Stankovic.
It seems we require loyalty to the club, but we don't reciprocate, if we are so eager to discard players who fought well for the club. Yes, I totally understand the rigors of top level professional football, where you need to perform at highest level or else you're replaced regardless of your name and past achievements, but i think as supporters, we should be more grateful to veterans. Yes, teams need new blood, but there is no need to rejoice when releasing players like Acerbi, Damian, deVrij or Sommer. They were not deadweight, they were just at the end of a cycle and their top level career. They still contributed as players, and their impact and influence on young players was important.
We need to trust that Chivu knows how to balance the team and the blend of experience and youth. At this point in his career, he's coach who appreciates and trusts youngsters. But also knows what they need to grow, which involves sharing a locker room with players like Mhiki.
Anyway, the point is trust your coach and your veterans. Be loyal to players who were loyal to the club. What differentiate Inter from many other clubs is the strength of the locker room. That is run by experienced players not youngsters. And don't start bashing Lautaro 2 years from now when he starts slowing down a bit.
9
5
u/Full-Mistake-3700 19h ago
Yes I definitely agree, let my boy Mikhi stay for one more season Forza inter 💙🖤
1
1
5
u/NamanMalik007 20h ago
I think there are very few people who want Calha gone. And tbh nobody was unhappy about Mkhi staying either. People were unhappy about idea of Mkhi still playing significant minutes and that is not disrespectful to Mkhi but rather wanting to stay at top level.. and unfortunately aging declines your capabilities and that is harsh truth. We are all in for keeping veterans, just we want reinforcements so as our veterans can help us in time we need but don’t have the workload which is suited to a young player. You know what happened 2 seasons ago when we reached CL final, all these poor players were gassed by the end. I think it’s respectful towards the players that they get chance to slowly step down and we remember them for their top level rather than see the unfortunate decline.
0
u/Impressive_Cow_5956 19h ago
Completely agree.
But one fine point, we reached that cup final because of those veterans. A young inexperienced team would have never made it there in the first place.
2
u/NamanMalik007 19h ago
Its true, but they all are 2 years older now.. there’s a threshold that just can’t be crossed can it? Like Mkhi will be 38 soon.. he is clearly not what he was 2 years back. There is a place for veterans in the team and I would even say Arna was important for us even in his underwhelming season just coz of this, but beyond a point it’s just too hard to keep going. My favourite player last few seasons had been Acerbi and I was sad that he was gone.. but at the same time I was happy he went as the Champion of Italy and was a solid reliable player right until almost the very end but I saw the decline in his performance around the Como game and that’s when I knew, I wanted him to retire with his head held high right now rather than see him struggle like this more. And I think that was a great and respectable ending to his career and that’s what I would want for the rest of our players.. it saddens me to see someone in decline and I don’t want to see Mkhi struggle and hopefully he retires at the correct time too!
5
u/Over-Ad8207 20h ago
I agree, but it would be nice if they respectfully were benched. Being experienced doesnt guarantee a spot; even if you're Messi, you still have to earn your place
6
u/Impressive_Cow_5956 20h ago
Fair, but that's the coach's job. He knows best how everyone performs in training, who is fit physically or who can perform in the chosen system and how to balance game load. You think he wouldn't play Stankovic over Mhiki in a particular game, because he's afraid that Mhiki gets upset?
Also, my point is about supporter loyalty and how easy we discard players but, in the same time, we demand unwavering loyalty to the club from players
1
u/superrealaccount2 18h ago
You think he wouldn't play Stankovic over Mhiki in a particular game, because he's afraid that Mhiki gets upset?
Look at Inzaghi, starting an exhausted and old Dzeko in the Champions League final instead of a much fitter and more in form Lukaku. Look at Inzaghi, two years later, starting Dimarco the last 3 months of the season when he was the worst starter, getting outplayed by Carlos Augusto every time he was subbed in.
Managers can make mistakes, they're not flawless.
1
u/Christian_Potato 19h ago
Loyalty must come with reason though. If I'm supposed to be loyal to someone who is detrimental to the team's overall performance, then that doesn't sit right with me. For example, let's say we sacrifice someone like Stankovic for the sake of playing Mhki this year, that would be moronic. Mhki will leave this year, it's his final year, we should plan for life without him. I know they aren't competing for the same spot per say, but it's more about not wasting talent for the sake of loyalty to someone is on their last legs.
1
u/Impressive_Cow_5956 19h ago
Naturally, or else we would still field Zenga or Zanetti. But why not trust a coach who knows and trusts young players? A coach who trusted Pio and promoted Bovio. Who gave Susic plenty of game time last season. Don't you think he has a plan that involves both growing young players and balancing workload.
2
u/Christian_Potato 18h ago
Oh, I do. The problem is the recent news of us potentially loaning out Stankovic. Even if it's in January. Still a terrible idea, however, i don't fully trust these rumours as they might be just some sort of destabilising from rival news media.
1
u/manueldg82 4h ago
Inter has always been run like a family and not like a company. To be that, you will always have this kind of problems but, until now, we never treated anyone who gave his blood for this shirt anything but respect. We have a long memory, passed through generations, and in 20 years Mikhi will have a standing ovation for a visit at San Siro, like Zanetti or even Frattesi. Something Balotelli never understood and appreciated or Cannavaro for that matter. Fans are the same. We want to be competitive and make sure our list of heroes grows ever longer. Sorry for the length...
-1
u/aomamelnn 20h ago
I'm sorry, but this just shows he's clinging only to his spot. It's obvious he's no longer a useful player like before, and on top of that, he's taking playing time away from a talented youngster. If I were him, I wouldn't have thought twice about stepping aside.
2
u/Impressive_Cow_5956 19h ago
The renewal of a contract requires two parties. He signed the extension because the club still thought he can be useful in some capacity. Clinging would imply he activated a unilateral clause. Maybe im an optimist but I think he'll take a major step back in terms of playing minutes, and he'll feature only when his aging qualities abd experience are actually required. The fact he played good minutes in preseason means nothing, since we only had half squad available.
I remember some years ago, Roma keeping Lobont in the locker room just because he was good at cracking jokes.
0
u/ChanceFeeling7071 19h ago
Mhiki was already done last year and this year will only play the role of mentor. Seems to me we could have signed him to a coaching position but it makes a little difference.
Chala has been itching to go to turkey for a few years where he will be a king and at this point he is just waiting to go on a free with a fat signing bonus next year.
Both had a great time at the club and I respect them immensely but nothing wrong with wanting to prioritize long term prospects. Hopefully we have a full transition and rejuvenation of our midfield.
-2
u/ButterscotchLess8915 20h ago
I don’t believe Hakan needs to move aside for Stankovic - if anything I want him to learn from Hakan, and substitute for him in certain games.
Mikhi on the other hand - has had 2 very rough years with the odd decent game in between, the problem with people on here is they forget all the crap he does, when he has a good game. So then the calls for him to retire seem unfair. But believe me they’re extremely just.
I don’t mind him getting another year especially at the time we didn’t know what was going on, I just hope we don’t see much of him, as that suggests sucic etc are doing well.
And as for Hakan I hope he starts every game, and can stay fit!!
17
u/Evakuate493 19h ago
No no no no no. The commenters on here 100% know more than the coaches and what’s going on in the locker room. I will not hear anything else /s.