Leave the headline to them. Yes, on the surface it looks fun, but Milan versus Lazio is a tactical board for Massimiliano Allegri and Maurizio Sarri, the real faces of the San Siro night ahead of us.
Sharp, smart, successful. In one word, Tuscan. One by birth, the other by family. They have faced each other many times, but Max has won more. With cynicism, a word heard a lot at Milanello these days. Sarri has never swallowed the bitter pill with his rival. “My relationship with Max? Good, he is Tuscan, so good. You can have a different idea of football, but the relationship stays good.”
A different idea of football, they say. Pragmatism against ideology. Variable systems against insistence. Ball possession not a priority against ball possession at the center. Situational pressing against systematic pressing. Defenses, both of which have conceded nine goals, that sense danger or push up. And more. Beyond tactics, Allegri and Sarri have opposite views on the freedom given to players. Allegri wants strong players to decide on their own, Sarri wants structure and rules, writes Milan Press.
Not only Serie A, but also the Coppa Italia. The schedule sets the same big match twice in one week, once at San Siro and once in Rome. A few days can change the direction of a season. One defeat in either match could drain Milan’s confidence from recent direct clashes or even cost them a trophy, while Lazio cannot ease off the accelerator they keep pressing in silence.
