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From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. Welcome to the rollercoaster world of Southampton Football Club.
Last night’s game in the San Siro was so much more than just another football match.
For many of the protagonists on the pitch that may not have been the case, the manager insisted it was definitely no more than just a game to be won like any other.
But, then, players and managers come and go at football clubs. The fans are the only constant.
And while it would perhaps be unfair to expect Claude Puel to really understand what this game meant to the club, and have any real perspective on it, the 7,000 supporters who paid hundreds, for a trip to Milan knew it.
While Inter Milan were winning the last of their Champions League titles in 2009/10, Saints were in League One.
They were starting their battle back from the brink, from administration, two relegations, point deductions and the very edge of existence.
Indeed, at this stage in 2009 they had just completed a 3-1 win over Oldham in front of 5,431 fans at Boundary Park. They were second from bottom of League One, looking up at Tranmere immediately above them.
In 2016, really a short space of time outside of the world of football, Inter are a faded giant while Saints are on the up and up. While Saints are now playing at the San Siro having completed their remarkable rise back to the top, Tranmere are no longer even in the Football League.
To be playing Inter Milan at all, and at the San Siro, was a sight many Saints fans thought they would never see.
Back in 2010 the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy seemed a step back towards glory. Even then nobody could have foreseen this evening.
It’s why Saints fans were in such great spirits.
As they arrived and mingled outside the ground, taking photos and selfies to last a lifetime, the atmosphere they generated was incredible. It was just so happy.
Three of the giant stands of the San Siro were sparsely populated by Inter fans. The middle tier behind one goal was crammed with Saints supporters, making their presence known.
Who thought the ‘Calmore Saints’ flag would fly at the San Siro? It was that kind of once in a generation event. It was why so many of the Southampton population had decamped to Milan.
And if it was a big night for the Saints fans, then how about Sam McQueen, the 21-year-old Southampton born, former Mountbatten School pupil and Tyro League player who made his first senior start for the club at the San Siro.
It had all the hallmarks of Chris Baird being thrust in as a surprise pick for the FA Cup final in 2003. And, like Baird, he looked a natural.
The first half really felt as if an ordinary Inter side were second best to Saints. The only frustration was that Saints didn’t get a deserved lead.
With Inter determined to play out from the back no matter how suicidal it might seem, Saints employed an unusually high press and with Cuco Martina and Dusan Tadic combining superbly down the right, were on top for the majority.
Jay Rodriguez was often the most advanced player through the middle for Saints, with Shane Long and Tadic peeling out wide.
The only trouble for the striker was, quite understandably as he battles back to sharpness, that his legs didn’t seem to quite keep up with his ever sharp footballing brain.
He really should have got a shot away on eight minutes when Miranda ducked under a direct ball to let him in, but Rodriguez was a little hesitant and the chance passed by.
Rodriguez started another forward break on 25 minutes, poking the ball out to McQueen on the left and continuing his run into the area.
McQueen produced a fine cross which keeper Samir Handanovic pushed out into Rodriguez but Yuto Nagatomo was back to stop the ball dribbling over the line.
James Ward-Prowse should have done better when Martina picked him out with a square ball across the face of the area but sidefooted firmly over the bar while Rodriguez couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross that was flicked towards the far post.
Inter only threatened briefly in the closing stages of the half, Eder driving narrowly wide from 20 yards after Maya Yoshida’s clearing header fell straight to him.
The second half was a different affair, as Inter shut down Saints’ right side and adapted their own game to stifle Claude Puel’s men.
Indeed, it was, eventually, Saints left to rue those missed first half chances.
After sub Charlie Austin had driven wide from 20 yards and Tadic saw a low drive stopped by Handanovic, Inter took the lead on 67 minutes.
Davide Santon was able to by himself a yard more space than he should have got down the left and cut the ball back to Antonio Candreva, who peeled off of Virgil van Dijk and struck a superb finish that flew past Fraser Forster and in off the underside of the bar, leading to the customary flares lighting up the stadium.
Saints were given further incentive to press forward when Marcelo Brozovic was sent off for a second bookable offence with 12 minutes remaining.
Try as they might though, they couldn’t get past Handanovic, who produced three excellent close range stops to deny van Dijk’s shot, Steven Davis’ header and then Austin who looked set to score from six yards out.
When Ward-Prowse let fly with an effort from outside of the box that whistled narrowly wide it clearly was not to be.
However, this game was about more than a result to Saints, and the grand history of the club.
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