The San Siro is gearing up for yet another Derby della Madonnina as Inter and Milan clash in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie. The Nerazzurri enter the match with a two-goal lead but with the likely return of Rafael Leao for Milan as we head towards the return leg, all is still left to play for. Inter must stay composed and not get complacent, while the Rossoneri will need to go all out from the off if they are to get back in the tie.
With a delectable return leg on the horizon, we spoke to Chief News Editor of SempreInter.com and 1/2 of the The Italian Football Podcast Nima Tavallaey to get an insight on the derby match and his views and opinions on what is set to be an incredible encounter.
You can find the full version of what Nima had to say over at In the Name of Football podcast here.
On Inter’s 2-0 first leg lead:
“The result is in itself a good one but given how incredibly dominant Inter were in the first 25 minutes and 45 minutes, I was annoyed from an Inter perspective because I wanted that game to be over. One thing that Milan, the derbies, for the past few years under Stefano Pioli have shown is that when you don’t kill Milan off they come back.”
“Now they (Inter) are in a position where they have to be fully concentrated, they have to go again. They have to be completely completely concentrated, there’s no room for error and they have to really be careful.”
On the magnitude of the derby and nerves heading into the second leg:
“This is a derby. It’s the most important derby in a generation. The last time this happened was 20 years ago exactly when Milan went through on the away goals rule and that really really hurt Inter mentally as a club. Now this time around Inter were much better, are much better and should go through.”
“Milan, if you don’t kill them off, come back and bite you and hurt you because they have certain world class individuals. In goal they got Mike Maignan, who’s the best goalkeeper in the world and they have Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao who really really cause you problems down that left-hand flank.”
On the win over Sassuolo, Romelu Lukaku and rotation:
“The Sassuolo game, what was good in that game, was that despite the defence being an utter shambles and just not turning up for 90 minutes it still showed that Inter up front, from midfield and upwards, were switched on. Romelu Lukaku is finally starting to come into form. He looked like the player he was under Antonio Conte for the first time in two years and his engine really is starting to heat up.
“I understand that Simone doesn’t want to burn him out. There are more important games coming up with Napoli in Serie A and with Fiorentina in the cup final and of course Atalanta at home and Torino as well before the season is over. So he has to rotate, he really really does have to rotate and that’s just how it is.”
On Inter’s midfield selection ahead of the second leg:
“Mkhitaryan seems likely because he (Inzaghi) likes the patience and composure that he has and control of the ball. Personally I think Brozovic, Calhanoglu and Barella is my dream midfield and I want to start with them because I think that midfield has everything. I think in this game you need a little bit more calm. When Milan are pushing and they’re going to go for it from the beginning, I think Inter need someone like Brozovic who can retain possession in the team.”