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Massimo Ambrosini believes that the derby will tell us a lot about AC Milan, but has doubts about the attacking department.
The first game back after the November international break promises to produce fireworks as Inter ‘host’ Milan in the first Derby della Madonnina of 2025-26. The two sides are separated by two points with the Nerazzurri currently ahead, so the gap could be widened or the Rossoneri could jump above their city rivals.
Milan go into the game having been held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against Parma in the last round, a game they led by two goals and then threw it away. Paradoxically, Massimiliano Allegri’s men seem to have struggled more against sides in the bottom half, but boast a great record against teams at the top end.
Ambrosini gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he discussed Milan’s current situation heading into the derby as well as giving his take on some individuals.
The derby is up next after the break…
“It will be an important derby , one that could influence the outcome, but not be decisive. And, beyond the next match, Milan has already shown signs of being able to compete. The derby is always an unpredictable match.
“Let’s look at what happened last year, when Milan always came in as the underdog and never lost, winning three out of five matches. Inter, however, remains the strongest team in the league, it will be a good test.”
Will the Pulisic-Leao pairing be used?
“I think it’s an ideal match for the two, although there’s a question mark over their compatibility as a pair, especially when facing tight defences. That shouldn’t be the case for Inter-Milan, however.”
Do you have any doubts about them?
“Without a true centre-forward, it’s an unknown quantity in more tight games. In my opinion, Leao isn’t a centre-forward, and I don’t know how comfortable he’ll be in certain matches. Perhaps he’s even less comfortable than Nkunku, who in fact played alongside Leao there.”
What impact has Rabiot’s absence over the last month had?
“First of all: I think Ricci did well as a midfielder. But Rabiot is Rabiot, and in some ways he’s irreplaceable in this Milan team. His absence was definitely felt.
“His international prowess, his experience, his ability to read the game’s moments. And of course his pace: Rabiot can cover the pitch like few midfielders in Italy.”
Would he have been useful against Pisa and Parma in game management?
“Definitely, although analyzing the goals conceded reveals they were more due to individual errors or lapses in concentration. Rabiot is the classic player who helps you stay on top of things, not be superficial.”
Did you expect more from Christopher Nkunku?
“To be honest, I can only say yes: I expected more from him, especially because I’m a huge admirer. He has his mitigating factors: he’s played very little, and as a centre-forward, which isn’t really his position, he’s not in top form.
“However, after his goal against France during the last international break and with the injuries in Milan’s attack, I expected him to pick up speed. Instead, he still seems a bit lost.”
Milan seem to be better against top teams than those near the bottom…
“Milan have been a bit inconsistent, especially in the second half against lower- ranked teams . Why? It’s hard to say. The other side of the coin is that, between Roma, Napoli, Juventus, Bologna and Atalanta, they’ve picked up 11 points without ever losing. The Rossoneri’s strength – especially in big matches – seems to me to be their ability to create a lot with little.
“Take the match against Roma: Milan struggled for long stretches, but in the half-hour in which they were superior, they had a multitude of scoring opportunities, while maintaining a high level of concentration at the back. In a season where – so far – we haven’t seen perfect teams, this could be an important characteristic .”
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