Albertini assesses Milan’s start and previews derby: “Max knows he has to fix something”

Demetrio Albertini believes that it was not a ‘given’ for AC Milan and Inter to be contesting the derby as two of the top three sides in the table.

The build-up to the first Derby della Madonnina clash is firmly underway, with Milan hoping to continue the positive trend from last season in which they won three of the five meetings against Inter and remained unbeaten.

The Rossoneri and the Nerazzurri have both made a good start in the league. Chivu’s side are top of the table on goal difference but are only two points above Massimiliano Allegri’s men, so a derby victory gives Milan the chance to leapfrog their cousins from across the Navigli.

Albertini’s assessment

Albertini spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published this morning and he commented on how Milan’s season is going so far plus the upcoming derby in one week.

“It wasn’t a given for me to see Inter and Milan so high up after eleven games. Both have strong squads on paper, but football is played on the pitch and you have to deal with many factors. Inter, for example, played the Club World Cup until July, and psychological fatigue could have taken its toll.

“Plus, they have a new coach who needed to get on well with the group. Chivu did a good job of achieving this quickly. Milan, on the other hand, were coming off last year’s eighth-place finish, and Allegri fixed a lot of things by working in preseason.

“Milan dropped too many points against smaller teams. Inter lost to Juve and Napoli, but then they hit a steady pace: Chivu found a way to re-motivate a group that had been at the top for years and bring in young players. It wasn’t a given.

“Last season, Milan were inconsistent, and they’re still a bit like that now. Modric and Rabiot gave so much, yet against Cremonese, Pisa, and Parma, the Rossoneri squandered three important opportunities. Even Max knows he has to fix something.

“Chivu likes to increase the pressure, and Allegri doesn’t necessarily benefit from defending deep and counter-attacking. Against Roma, who started aggressively, Milan struggled for half an hour and conceded a lot.

“If you have a quick player like Leao and a player who knows the game like Modric, you can’t let them get you down. The Portuguese and Pulisic? Neither of them are a nine in terms of characteristics, but the way you interpret the role matters.

“Leao can start in the centre, as long as he doesn’t receive too many balls with his back to goal, and then move to the left, where he made the difference against Roma. Pulisic is intelligent and will get into space.

“It will be a fantastic test for Milan’s defence because Lautaro and Thuram are a very strong and well-matched pair. The Rossoneri will have to defend as a unit and always remain alert.

“The key duel? The one in midfield because the two teams are equally matched there and have extraordinary players: Modric is a champion, Rabiot is the perfect backup because he knows Serie A and Allegri. Inter he has the same department that has been a guarantee for a few years and added Sucic.”