Winning the Derby at Inter’s stadium with a saved penalty from Calhanoglu was thrilling for Milan fans. The city rivalry curse now rests entirely with Inter, who have gone over 580 days without beating the Rossoneri.
Max Allegri’s tactical masterstroke was obvious. He let Inter control possession, Milan defended in an organized and compact way, then countered with lethal weapons. It was no coincidence that Christian Pulisic decided the Derby, a player whose absence had been deeply felt by the team. Allegri proves himself a top strategist, especially in direct confrontations. He has beaten all of the top five teams, showing Milan has the tools to stay competitive until the last matchday. Milan needs better results against smaller teams to match a title-winning pace. The Derby also marked Allegri’s 100th win as Milan coach across all competitions.
The absolute star was Mike Maignan with at least three decisive saves. The first two were against Thuram and Lautaro, but the standout was the penalty stop. Maignan saved Milan with a brilliant save on Calhanoglu, a known penalty specialist. The duel was largely psychological. Maignan’s first move invited the former Rossonero to shoot to his right, while leaving space on the same side of the goal. Calhanoglu struck confidently, but at the last moment Maignan moved and, with a feline leap, denied the equalizer. Such a save requires confidence, technical skill, and detailed preparation. At Milanello, goalkeeper coach Filippi ran special drills in preparation for the Derby. Maignan’s penalty saves are increasing thanks to Allegri’s new collaborator. After stopping Dybala, he also stopped Calhanoglu, who appeared unsettled by Maignan’s strategy.
Now Milan fans are asking: will the club really lose Mike for free in June? The risk is high, but Tare and Allegri are working on it. Convincing him will not be easy, but the sporting director and coach were key to keeping him during the Chelsea negotiations. Mediation will be needed, along with a significant contract. Losing such a strong goalkeeper would be a mistake. Besides Premier League clubs, Juventus is also reportedly interested in Maignan, as relayed via Milan News.
