AC Milan play their third Derby della Madonnina this weekend against Inter, and with things boiling over, there is a lot at stake.
Despite getting the better of their rivals twice this season, Milan cannot fall behind to Inter this weekend. Tensions are already high at San Siro, and with ticket prices being raised massively, fans are outraged.
Considering there is no better sight than a full San Siro, the club should be doing everything in their power to pack the stands, rather than giving fans a reason to miss the game. If you want to see a packed San Siro permanently, consider getting a photo gift for him of the iconic ground.
Protests have been frequent recently and against Parma, things were no different. This goes for the performance too. Once again, the Rossoneri were poor and fell behind twice, yet still managed to turn things around. Memories of course, but memories that should not be being created.
Fans are not going to see the side overcome Parma by the skin of their teeth, no. Instead, fans want to see dominant performances, something which has been consistently promised to the supporters, yet rarely delivered.
With the pricing of tickets for the derby, protests will likely be directed towards Gerry Cardinale (again), with many believing that the American is prioritising protests over the sporting side of the club.
The ticketing issue is just one side of the coin. If the Diavolo do not have a new attacking player through the door against Inter, even if they are not able to start, there will be frustration again.
At present, the management are sitting on a golden opportunity – the chance to sign Santiago Gimenez in the middle of the season. Few signings are more statement than the Mexican, especially if he were to arrive in January.
The move goes against most things that Milan have done in recent years. Not only is the deal discussed worth more than €20 million, which is a bridge that the Rossoneri have very rarely crossed in recent times.
It is also for an established goalscorer who almost guarantees double figures for goals. This comes with the added bonus that he is only 23 years old so he is not a short-term signing.
In fact, Gimenez’s arrival is the type of statement signing that can catapult the club into a new era and fund the future. Hypothetically speaking, if the Mexican succeeds, he will have a high resale value which can then be further reinvested.
Milan fans want to see a competitive side that they are proud of and Gimenez will be a step towards that, as will another positive result against the Nerazzurri.
If Sunday comes around and Milan lose without an attacker through the door, things could get very ugly.