The Derby della Madonnina will have several decisive players, but AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric could be in his own battle against Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu.
Saying that a derby will be decided by two feels wrong. Ultimately, it can be decided by anyone, whether they start on the pitch or on the sidelines. Nevertheless, you’d imagine certain players will play big roles, even if not directly decisive.
Of course, two of those players will be each team’s dictators.
Battle of the registi
As Corriere della Sera, via MilanPress, writes, the derby could be ‘illuminated’ by Calhanoglu and Modric, both of whom are the brains for their respective teams at the base of the midfielders.
For the Croatian, the Rossoneri will hope that this is not his final derby appearance. Indeed, the Milan world is ‘in love’, and he has always put his all in the project. The hope, then, is that he decides to extend his stay by a year. Regardless of that, though, the priority for now is that everyone enjoys the current moment.
In the first leg, Calhanoglu’s penalty miss was one of the deciding moments, and he aims to bounce back in the second leg as a starter. He will be part of a minority wanting a different result.
Turkish scum v Croatian legend.