Inter boss Simone Inzaghi hopes his side could whittle down the gap on AC Milan ahead of the latest installment of the famous Derby della Madonnina. The 175th edition of one of football’s greatest rivalries will take place at the San Siro on Sunday night.
One of several cracking fixtures on this weekend’s European football schedule pits the long-time tenants of the San Siro against each other in a Serie A top-four six-pointer. Despite their European woes, Milan are in great shape coming into this fixture. Alongside Napoli, they are one of only two Serie A sides to have won ten of the opening 11 league matches this term.
Milan’s eye-catching start to this Serie A season ensured they hold a six-point cushion over Inter ahead of this round. Meanwhile, the reigning Italian champions have experienced a topsy-turvy beginning of the season as they seek a spark to reinvigorate their title defense. Beating the fierce rivals in this mouth-watering showdown could be precisely what the doctor ordered.
Inzaghi, who replaced the title-winning manager Antonio Conte in the summer, is set to make his managerial debut in the Derby della Madonnina. The Italian strategist is well aware of the importance of the upcoming contest and hopes his side can replicate the performance that earned them a 3-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in midweek Champions League action.
“It’s my first Milan derby, we returned from the Champions League match on Thursday, but we spent all day at the training ground yesterday,” Inzaghi said, as quoted by TUTTOmercatoWEB. “I had the good fortune to play many derbies as a player and coach.
“We didn’t have many days to prepare for the match, but I saw the right belief in my players’ eyes, we know it’s an important game for us, we are doing good things. In Germany or Spain, we’d be one or two points close to the top.
“Certainly, it will be an intense match. We all know what a derby means, the importance for the fans and the club. We’ve played only 11 matches so far and we must focus on one game at a time. We are seven points behind Napoli and we want to fill the gap starting from tomorrow.
“We knew there would be 27 games remaining with so many points available, but tomorrow’s game is crucial for the table and for the conditions of the group, which is improving day by day. There is great enthusiasm, the fans are always following us and tomorrow they will help us.“