Juventus - Milan 1-2: the Rossoneri made a comeback thanks to Christian Pulisic and an own-goal forced by Yunus Musah. Now, preparations are ongoing for the final against Inter on January 6.
Arrigo Sacchi, former Milan coach, shared his thoughts with La Gazzetta dello Sport about the match, Sergio Conceicao's impact, and the outlook for the derby.
Here are his statements:
Who is the favourite in the final?
"Easy answer: Inter. The Nerazzurri are not just strong; they are incredibly strong. Simone Inzaghi’s team is mature and growing game by game, which means there’s substantial work and a clear project behind them."
On Theo Hernandez’s mistake in Juventus’ goal:
"How can you make such a poor move? It reflects a lack of focus, a failure to be engaged, and an inability to read the play. However, after that mistake, he recovered, which shows he has character."
On Milan’s victory, Sacchi said:
"I think this is a positive signal following the coaching change. Tactically, it’s evident that Sergio Conceição hasn’t had enough time to make his mark. However, the reaction in the second half was there. The team clearly has the energy to overturn negative situations and the footballing knowledge to face tough opponents like Juventus."
Who stood out among the Rossoneri? Sacchi:
"Honestly, after the first half, I would have substituted all of them. There wasn’t a single player worth saving. In the second half, though, everyone improved. Reijnders and Pulisic, in particular, probably contributed the most. I don’t know what Conceição said in the locker room during halftime, but he clearly struck the right chords. He’s a passionate individual who knows how to convey emotions. Now, however, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels. There’s still much work to be done, many situations to analyze, and several details to refine. That said, the team has both technical and physical qualities. If they also bring in moral values, Milan has a solid foundation to build on for the future."
On the defence in the final moments:
"It’s a sign of pragmatism from the coach. Conceição was determined to win and helped the team by setting them up that way at the end. Now they need to reset and focus on how to approach Inter."
How would you play in the final? Sacchi answered:
"Milan has the opportunity to challenge Inzaghi’s team, especially with speed. The Nerazzurri, strong across all areas, can struggle against the rapidity of opposing attackers. Conceição must work on this aspect in the coming days and also fix the defensive issues from the first half, as their defensive phase didn’t function well."
