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On the eve of the big game between AC Milan and Inter, Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media at the usual press conference.
Milan have a big opportunity to leapfrog Inter in the league standings tomorrow, currently two points behind their city rivals. However, as is always the case in the derby, it won’t be an easy game and a lot will be required from the players.
As has been pointed out by many, the derby feels very different compared to last season, with Milan opting for the experienced Allegri and Inter the inexperienced Cristian Chivu. Without a doubt, it has made the game even more difficult to predict.
Speaking at the pre-match presser on Saturday morning, as transcribed by MilanNews, Allegri shared his thoughts on the importance of the clash. He also discussed the fact that Milan have done better against the bigger teams this season, though he doesn’t think that matters so much.
You know a lot about the derby… What is it like for managers?
“Let’s watch the match. It’s going to be a wonderful evening. Inter-Milan is a historic rivalry for Milan. I started the fixture well, then we drew, and then I lost four in a row.
“Inter, along with Napoli, are the favourites for the Scudetto. They have won 11 of their last 12 games. They have technical and physical players, but the derby is always different. We’ll have to be good at putting in a very good performance and be more focused: that’s what we lacked against Parma.”
Is tomorrow crucial? Have you read about Ornella Vanoni’s passing?
“She was a wonderful woman. We are very sad that it happened on the eve of the derby, she was a Milan fan…
“Tomorrow begins the period leading up to March, and we hope to get there in the best possible position. After March, there are the final two crucial months. In between, we have the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa matches.
“Currently, there are 20 guaranteed matches between now and March, and if we’re good, that could become 22. We need to work hard, like we did this week. The players have returned from their national teams in good shape, and we’ve had a good week of work.”
Milan are better against the big teams. Does that give you confidence?
“I’m confident regardless. Tomorrow is very difficult because we’re playing against a strong team. The big games give you so much adrenaline and so much excitement in preparing for them. Then we will see if we will be good enough, and a little lucky, in getting the result or if our opponents will be better.”
The standings…
“The season is still long. In a week with two games, the standings can change in an instant. We must stay focused on the final goal: finishing in the top four.”
Have you ever been close to Inter? What’s your relationship with Marotta like?
“Everyone knows it. The year I returned to Juventus, I had to make a decision overnight: go to Juve, go to Inter, or go to Real Madrid. With President Marotta, we have had great success. He’s doing a great job at Inter. To win games, you have to be pragmatic and concrete.”
According to the bookmakers, Inter are the real favourites…
“First of all, we’re starting at 0-0. Inter are a strong team, in excellent physical and technical condition, but so are we. They’re physically strong, have good shooters, and have solutions inside the box. When you play big matches, you have to be very careful because the details make the difference.”
On Rabiot…
“He will play!”
Milan’s performance varies depending on the opponents. Is it a question of the approach?
“It’s hard to explain. There are years when you do really well in head-to-head matches and struggle against smaller teams. This year, for the moment, that’s the case. Against Cremonese, we conceded little to nothing; against Pisa, we didn’t have the strength to close it out.
“Against Parma, the incident changed the game, and we almost conceded from three lateral fouls at the start of the second half: these are things we need to improve. The past can’t be changed and the points we have are the points we deserve.
“Tomorrow is a thrilling match. It’s a match that the players need to be happy to play. It will be a great day of sport.”
Inter want to erase last year’s five derbies and are very determined… Do you think the players have learned the lesson from Parma?
“We made technical mistakes in the opening minutes against Roma. It’s true what you say about Parma, but against Napoli, we fought hard and didn’t lose focus. We need to improve our play throughout the 95 minutes. It’s natural that Inter want to win tomorrow, and we want to do the same. Inter have been fighting for the Scudetto every year for five years. They are the favourites.”
What is the latest on the injuries?
“Tomorrow, Athekame is unavailable due to a soleus injury, and Gimenez is unavailable due to an ankle injury. The others are fine and have improved their condition, and that’s a good thing both for tomorrow and for the period between now and March.”
The differences between Chivu and Inzaghi…
“They are more or less similar in terms of characteristics, the backbone is more or less the same. Chivu is doing an excellent job, and for his first experience at a big team, he’s doing a great job. You can tell the team is a compact group. I don’t think the difference with Inzaghi is huge, the players are more or less the same.”
Is the key to the derby in individual duels?
“When you win individual duels, you have a better chance of winning. Against Parma, we won a few in the second half, and in fact we drew. Tomorrow, tactically, technically, and physically, it will be a high-level match.”
What did you say to the players this week? What are your fears about Inter?
“Today we will have our last training session. Actually, tomorrow morning. We weill sort out the last things and hope to get them right. Inter have some great long-range shooters. When they are close to the penalty area, they have physicality.
“When they have space on the counterattack, they are very good because they have technique and pace. It will take a great match to create the conditions to bring home a good result. Football is brutal, but we will have to be ready to play a great game.”
Regarding Gimenez, beyond the statistics, what weight does he have?
“He’s a significant asset, he’s a key player, he scored a lot of goals before arriving at Milan. It’s not easy to arrive midway through the season, at the end of January: three months… He doesn’t understand the language, he has to adapt to a different kind of football in a difficult situation.
“This year, he returned on August 5th after the national team and he performed well. Now he has an ankle problem, but you’ll see that in football, things change in an instant.”
On Lautaro…
“He’s one of the strongest strikers around. Not only in Italy, but in Europe and the world. He has the maturity to determine certain matches. We will have to keep an eye on him. Him, Thuram, Bonny, Esposito: it’s a strong team!”
Have you already chosen between Bartesaghi and Estupinan? Does Dumfries’ absence have an impact?
“It doesn’t affect anything. I will have to decide today. Estupinan returned to Parma after 50 days without playing, Bartesaghi returned after two ninety-minute matches with the national team, and he had a good training session yesterday. The match is long, so I might need both of them.”
What would it mean to win the derby?
“It would allow us to have a good week. Winning changes your mood for the week. I always tell the guys: let’s try to get a result so we can feel good in the days to come.”
On the support of the Curva Sud and their return…
“It helped a lot. When we play at home again, the stadium will help us a lot when the game gets difficult.”
Did Ibrahimovic say anything to the team?
“He came to Milanello yesterday, we chatted a bit. He comes every now and then, just like Tare: the club is always there. You have to be excited for tomorrow, but without being afraid. You have to have a lot of adrenaline, excitement, and fun in playing these games.”
Are you asking Leao to be like Ibrahimovic?
“He’s slowly realising that a striker is valued for the goals he scores, which is a sign of growth.”
On Thiago Silva…
“I spent two wonderful years with Thiago, he’s an extraordinary player. He’s still playing at a good level. The club is there for the mercato, but we need to focus on the games, taking them one at a time, especially because you can’t play more than one at a time.”
How Rabiot helps Fofana…
“Fofana has had some good games. He’s a player with enormous potential in both phases of the game. He needs to be more careful in certain situations. Rabiot, so far, I’ve found a much better Rabiot than when I had him. He’s at a peak stage of development, a very powerful player on the pitch.”
On Pavlovic…
“Pavlovic is improving a lot: the more you play, the more you grow and improve. He has always had that ability to run forward, he’s very aggressive. He needs to improve his focus inside the box as in some situations, he’s still lacking a little.”
Milan have only scored one goal from a set piece against Lecce, and none from corners. How do you explain that?
“We have had 71 of them and haven’t scored. Maybe tomorrow we will have two and score. That’s football.”
We read about Baresi’s return to Casa Milan. Are you expecting him at Milanello?
“This news goes beyond a football match. I’m very happy that he’s feeling better. I’m waiting for him at Milanello. He should be a point of reference for the AC Milan players and the entire AC Milan environment.”
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