If the derby were a logical match, perhaps it wouldn’t even be played. There’s one team that looks like a perfect machine: Inter, of course. They are competing on all fronts, leading the league, have won seven of their last eight matches (drawing one—not losing), and are riding a wave of widespread euphoria and shared harmony, so much so that Inzaghi’s contract is about to be renewed until 2027.
And then there’s another team whose engine stalled as soon as it left the factory and never started again, despite being thoroughly overhauled in January at great expense: Milan, equally obviously. They have lost four of their last six games, were knocked out of the Champions League by Feyenoord, are twenty points behind the league leaders—who happen to be their great rivals—and are not only far from fourth place but also at risk of missing out on any European qualification, having dropped to ninth place.
It doesn’t end there: the CEO is in the process of selecting the sporting director who will bring in the next coach, meaning a revolution is underway. Meanwhile, a very nervous Sergio Conceição takes his place on the bench, knowing that whatever happens at the end of the season, he will be let go. A new Milan is being born even as the old one takes the field with a trophy at stake.
The derby is without logic
It almost never is, and there’s no guarantee it will be this time, especially considering what has happened this season in clashes between Inter and Milan. They have faced each other three times, and only in the last match did the Italian champions manage to scrape a draw (at the very last moment), having suffered defeats in the first league meeting and the Supercoppa final. In other words, Inzaghi’s team flies high—except in the derby; Conceição’s team—and before that, Fonseca’s—thrives only when facing the Nerazzurri.
That’s because these encounters are influenced by other factors, especially emotional ones. Perhaps excessive confidence, a sort of superiority complex, could cause Inter players to take the match too lightly without realizing it (much was said about the Nerazzurri’s arrogance after their defeat in the first derby of the season).
Previous meetings
As for Milan, they seem capable of great feats only when they are on the brink of disaster: in despair, they find the strength to react. It has happened multiple times this season, starting with the two matches that earned them the Supercoppa. Speaking of the Supercoppa: those who are writing Milan off today should remember the predictions before the final in Riyadh, when almost everyone considered Inter the overwhelming favorite. The derby, after all, is not a logical match. And for all his desire to surprise, even Conceição cannot afford to leave Leão on the bench again today. He did it in Naples and nearly got crushed. It’s true: Rafa is not a reliable player—he can win a match on his own or leave you playing with ten men despite still being on the pitch. But in this unbalanced, erratic Milan, prone to alarming lapses, the Portuguese forward is one of the few capable of making an impact, breaking through defenses, and changing the game. It’s better to put him in and see what he can do.
Milan’s illogical nature clashes with Inter’s pragmatism: solid, tactically consistent, full of experienced and effective players, but also capable of producing moments of great football. Lautaro’s absence will be felt, as will the team’s focus on upcoming commitments in the league and Champions League. That’s why Inzaghi seems inclined to rest Mkhitaryan—who just turned 36—ahead of away matches in Parma and Monaco. Lately, Simone has managed his squad’s energy well, but now the task becomes even more challenging.
Toward Rome
Meanwhile, Bologna is already looking ahead to Rome, to the final on May 14: a historic event for a club with a rich past of victories but one that hasn’t been accustomed to such occasions for many years. The difference with Empoli was too great, a team that had already pulled off a feat by eliminating Juve in the quarter-finals. The first leg of the semi-final settled the matter (3-0), highlighting the disparity in quality between the two teams. This difference was further amplified by their contrasting psychological states: the Emilians are soaring thanks to their recent excellent results and the quality of their play, while the Tuscans must devote all their energy to the fight for survival, which is worth far more than a Coppa Italia final. Italiano’s team is the real revelation of the season: many thought they would struggle enormously after Motta’s departure (as well as Zirkzee, Calafiori...), yet the new coach has masterfully built on Thiago’s foundation while adding his own touch. Most importantly, he has not been burdened by the expectations created by last year’s extraordinary results. Now, they await either Inter or Milan.
Source: Gazzetta.it
