Legendary Milan tactician Arrigo Sacchi has delivered a stinging criticism of Inter’s approach to the recently concluded Milan derby. The Nerazzurri were well in the driving seat as half-time approached, after which the Rossoneri took hold of proceedings – going on to win the top-of-the-table clash thanks to a quickfire brace by World Cup winning veteran Olivier Giroud.
The result sees the Scudetto race blow wide open and Sacchi believes Inter could have instead got a seven point lead at the top of league standings if they had not sat back and slowed the pace of the game.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an exclusive interview, the former Rossoneri manager shed light on the Derby della Madonnina, starting with Inter’s tactics after having drawn first blood.
“Inter did as all Italian teams do: once they have the lead, instead of looking for a knockout, they worry about managing the game, and then they slow down the pace. That’s no good. You have to attack and have courage for 90 minutes or more.”
“I don’t know who it was who said that football encompasses universal history in 90 minutes, but I know he was right. Who would have thought, at the end of the first half, that Milan would have won this match? Nobody, nobody at all. Football is beautiful also for these oddities,” he explained.
Sacchi thinks Mike Maignan had as big of an impact as match-winner Giroud did.
He said: “Giroud decided the game at least as much as Maignan. For me the goalkeeper was the best.”
The result in the derby sees Napoli and Milan close the gap of league leaders Inter. Sacchi believes the true test of Inter’s character lies in how they respond to ‘certain blows’ like what the Milan derby offered.
“Table tightened, but Inter remain the strongest. Now they will have to demonstrate maturity: it is not easy to absorb certain blows. But the qualities of Inzaghi’s group are superior to those of the others.”
The Nerazzurri sit on top with 53 points – one more than Napoli and Milan – with an extra game in hand.
They have a chance to extend that lead to four points when they visit Stadio Diego Armando Maradona next where Napoli eagerly await them, seeking a chance to overtake Simone Inzaghi’s men at the top of the league.