Empoli and Milan‘s fans taunted each other after the Rossoneri’s 3-0 win in Tuscany while others desperately tried to get a picture with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the former striker left the main stand. Here are three things you didn’t spot on TV.
Football Italia was among the accredited media at the Stadio Castellani Computer Gross Arena for Milan’s 3-0 victory against Empoli on Sunday.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Olivier Giroud and Chaka Traorè got their names on the scoresheet in Tuscany, but what did you miss by watching the game on TV?
Fans put on a show
The Stadio Castellani Computer Gross Arena was nearly sold out, with several Milan fans coming from all over Italy to watch the Rossoneri in the first Serie A game of 2024. The away end was sold out with over 3,000 Milan supporters, but at least 1,500 more cheered on the Rossoneri from other sections of the stadium. At the end of the game, Milan ultras taunted the home fans by singing ‘You’ll go back to Serie B’, but the Tuscans immediately replied sarcastically with ‘You’ll win the Tricolore‘, in other words, the Serie A title. Milan may have beaten the Azzurri but remain nine points below leaders Inter, while Empoli sit rock bottom of the table with just 13 points and 10 goals scored in the opening 19 games.
Ibrahimovic
New Milan director Ibrahimovic followed the team in Empoli and watched the warmup from the touchline, covering his head with a hood. He didn’t speak to the media before or after the match, but all eyes were on the former striker in the final minutes while he was preparing to abandon the stadium. Ibra left his seat in the main stand after minute 90, and at that moment, most fans around him stopped watching players on the pitch, turning their attention to the Rossoneri legend and trying to get a picture with him. The 41-year-old didn’t stop for a selfie and quickly returned to the tunnel.
USA connection
Chaka Traorè scored his first Serie A goal at minute 88, assisted by USMNT captain Christian Pulisic. The pass and finish were spot on, allowing Milan to finalise a perfect counter-attack. You have surely seen Milan players, including those on the bench, running towards Traorè to celebrate his goal, but what you may have missed is Pulisic remaining a few yards behind the 19-year-old. The American star was joined by his compatriot Yunus Musah who had run from the halfway line to hug and congratulate his teammate on the edge of Empoli’s box. They eventually reached their teammates close to Milan’s bench, celebrating their third goal and a deserved victory.
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