"I have zero envy of Chivu. I am already in the right place, which is at Milan and not Inter," Amorim said on the eve of Milan-Inter, responding to a very specific question about whether he envied anything about the Nerazzurri coach. A statement that, while respectful, added a bit of spice to a Derby that is always experienced with great passion. The Portuguese coach had never made a secret of it: already years ago, he had declared his deep love for the Rossoneri colours.
Experiencing a Derby della Madonnina as one of the main protagonists must have been even more special, especially for fans following every tactical detail and consulting a parlay odds calculator ahead of the big clash.
Milan, however, did not arrive in good shape: the defeat against Bologna at San Siro, accompanied by boos, had caused some concern within the club. Somewhat surprisingly, it was Cardinale who calmed things down. He expressed great confidence in the manager, describing their relationship as "unbreakable" and comparing him to the wingman from Top Gun. He also wanted to create a sense of unity and cohesion by organising a dinner with several Rossoneri legends, who were then invited to the stadium last night.
Cardinale's backing helps Amorim put Bologna defeat behind him
This allowed the coach and the team to prepare with peace of mind and concentration. And Amorim comfortably won the head-to-head battle with Chivu. It is true that Inter had to do without Lautaro and had Esposito and Bonny who were not at their best, but AC Milan were missing Samuel Chukwueze, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. In short, both teams had their difficulties, something that even those studying modern coaching methods on the Wild.io education platform would recognise as a classic derby challenge of adapting under pressure.
The team's approach and organisation made the difference: Milan started with great intensity and attacking intent, enjoying prolonged spells of possession. The first goal, Pulisic's header from Moreira's cross, came after a very long sequence of passes: the team moved the ball well, showed patience, did not force the play, and in every area of the pitch covered during the move towards Josep Martinez's goal, the right movements were made.
The second goal, Rabiot's, showcased one of the Portuguese coach's "secrets": his name is Carlo Fernandes, and he is the member of staff responsible for set-piece tactics. Diawara's screen, deliberately positioning himself in front of Carlos Augusto when Moreira took the kick, was an NBA-style play. Rabiot reached the ball unmarked thanks to his teammate's synchronised movement and was able to put it into the net with a very delicate touch. San Siro erupted with joy and the entire Rossoneri bench went over to embrace Fernandes: United fans miss him dearly.
Inter are nevertheless a quality opponent, and they did react, especially after Bastoni's goal. Milan regrouped, held firm, defended well even with a low block and then struck with a wonderful free kick from Moreira at the end of the first half.
Milan finally deliver on Amorim's possession philosphy
In the second half, the team finally made the step forward that many had been waiting for: Milan moved the ball almost as if controlled by a remote, following Amorim's instructions, and "defended with possession", just as the Portuguese coach has been preaching since the start of the year. Inter ran and became tired, while Milan circulated the ball with confidence. Whenever there was some concern, the team turned to Modric and everything became calm again: Amorim has understood that the Croatian is too important. This new midfield with Musah and Rabiot "protects" him and gives the entire team greater assurance. Milan won 3-1 and took home three points with great merit.
After the match, further positive signs came from the manager: he said he was happy for the players and the fans, but made it clear that the Bologna match still hurt him. The message is simple: winning the derby is extraordinary, but without consistency in results, it is an end in itself. It is up to him to find the solution, and he knows that very well.
He ended with a joke about Cardinale's comments:
"The objective, as Cardinale said, is always to win the Scudetto. And we have to be honest: achieving that already in the first year will be difficult. But we will fight in every match. At Milanello, our objective is to return to winning the Scudetto. Top Gun really is a great film, but in the first one, the wingman dies… (laughs). I will try to focus more on the second movie."
