Arrigo Sacchi, in his usual column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, talked about the upcoming Milan derby scheduled after the international break. He said these words:
"At San Siro, all the ingredients will be there for a spectacular showdown: Inter and Milan are coming into the match in excellent form, they are at the top of the standings and are providing excitement, which means that they are also psychologically in good shape. I don't know how it will end, but I do know that the team that sticks to its own game plan, considering it the best antidote to stop the opponent, will win."
On what Stefano Pioli needs to do to contain Inter:
"Milan needs to be compact and aggressive to put pressure on Inter. The Nerazzurri could struggle against a high pressing game if done at the right times. It's about creating a team that can move in a cohesive and organized manner: eleven players in active positions both with and without the ball. This should be Pioli's goal. Otherwise, if when Inter advances, Milan's three attackers don't track back, everything becomes complicated and there are serious risks.
Sacchi said this on the Inter team:
"Inzaghi's team, a skilled coach and excellent tactician, has defensive solidity as its strength. After three games, they haven't conceded a single goal yet, and that's no small feat because it means there is communication between the units, with everyone helping and collaborating. However, in terms of overall play, it must be admitted that the Nerazzurri rely heavily on counterattacks: they have the right elements for that style of play. Speed, power, and, once they lose the ball, immediate defensive reorganization without paying too much attention to pressing."
Sacchi added:
"In the past season, Inter's dominance in the many derbies that were played was clear. This dominance also stemmed from their evident athletic superiority. Now, it seems to me that Milan has slightly corrected its course and added muscle to the team. However, if there isn't the right cohesion and if the group isn't sufficiently compact and aggressive, muscles can do very little."
