GdS: Tactics, resilience and Inter’s flaws – how Milan flipped the derby script

SempreMilan

·8 de enero de 2025

GdS: Tactics, resilience and Inter’s flaws – how Milan flipped the derby script

The Derby della Madonnina was a constant source of misery for AC Milan fans not long ago, but they last two meetings with Inter have brought great memories.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Milan lost their last Supercoppa Italiana final 3-0 against Inter in 2023, as part of a streak of six games in a row in which they were defeated by their rivals from across the Navigli. However, they have now won two derbies on the spin, so what changes?

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Tactics

The most visible explanation is tactical because Milan today are a different team. Stefano Pioli often chose to go man-on-man against Inter which played into their hands, because the aggressive approach was not carried out well.

Only once did he veer strongly from his usual course: the game in February 2023 played with Junior Messias as a midfielder and Divock Origi as a striker in a hyper-defensive 3-5-2. He limited the damage (1-0 for Inter) but Milan were passive, unrecognisable and almost cowardly.

Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceiçao have explored other paths, each in their own way. They know that Inter are very comfortable against teams that play man-to-man, as Gian Gasperini Gasperini can attest to.

Fonseca chose two strikers for the league derby in September and surprised with calculated aggression. Conceiçao was more conservative but in the second half he changed the game with Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Tijjani Reijnders and above all Tammy Abraham for Yunus Musah.

The great constants from the Inter win streak are no longer seen: no more counter-attacks with Milan outnumbered, no more goals conceded from corners and less of the overwhelming impact from the wing-backs.

Psychology

Mentality is an important aspect, too. In the 16 months where they didn’t win a derby, Milan went through its worst phase: absent-minded stars, new signings to be included, some lost leadership.

Inter were a much more balanced and prepared team, and in those months it rose in strength, reaching the Champions League final which could remain forever the pinnacle of the Simone Inzaghi era. It is difficult to stop them for a team that was losing confidence.

This Milan, on the other hand, seems more suited to fighting. Theo and Leao, its stars, played a great match and this changes everything. Some starters – Fofana, Morata, Jimenez, Emerson Royal – have not even experienced the season of the six derbies and do not have the scars.

Resilience

In recent months, Milan have also built a new ability to withstand shock. The old derbies had a consolidated script: immediately a goal from Inter, thank you and goodnight.

And Milan? Never capable of turning the game around, more often overwhelmed by the waves of Nerazzurri attacks. Everything has changed: in the league, Gabbia scored the 2-1 at the end. In the Supercoppa, they came from 2-0 down and won it in the 93rd minute.

Here is another answer to that question: to beat Inter you have to resist their pressure and survive the difficult moments, which come sooner or later. They are a team that score goals but they present chances in games, which must be taken.

Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images

Questions about Inter

The last answer is linked to the opponent. Milan have overturned the derby scripted because Inter do not seem what they were. They are ‘no longer the team that works ten hours a day with the hunger of those who want to get there’, as per the paper.

In some games they are absent, they start slowly like in Riyadh, sometimes they look around absent-mindedly like the tourists at the Duomo. It is clear that they have been unlucky – Thuram injured, Calhanoglu out early – but they have to retaliate.

In the next derby in early February they will have something to redeem: if there is an opportunity to prove it, this is it. Can Milan aim for a counter-streak, with five or six wins in a row? It’s too early to tell, but next month will help us understand, as will a potential Coppa Italia meeting.