Massimo Oddo will watch the game between Lazio and AC Milan with split loyalties, but he hopes to simply enjoy the game.
Oddo began his journey in the Milan academy but never established himself in the first team, at least initially. He bounced around lower-league sides and got his break with Lazio, with whom won the Coppa Italia in 2004.
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In 2007 he returned to the Rossoneri and won three trophies in quick succession: the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. He would also be part of the 2010-11 Scudetto-winning side.
He was the second head coach of Milan Futuro, but departed in the summer by mutual consent. Oddo spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published on the morning of the game at the Stadio Olimpico, with his comments relayed by MilanPress.
What do you expect from the game?
“It will be a high-level match. Lazio is currently playing with a three-man midfield, so they will certainly have numerical superiority in the middle.
“Milan will have to be careful not to stretch out so as not to leave their opponents with a three-on-two situation, and in turn they will try to create density with narrow lines.”
Luka Modric is expected to start…
“Modric is a champion, one of the last of his generation, and he would have been happy in my Milan. I don’t know if he would have always been a starter because he would have had to compete with Pirlo.”
What do you think of Alphadjo Cisse?
“A very interesting profile, a young player who showed great things last season and is continuing on the same path with a more prestigious team in a higher division.
“He has a great personality because when he comes on, he fears nothing: he tries his hand at play, turns, dribbles, and runs after everyone. This is certainly a very positive sign. He has the qualities, and we all expect him to grow even further.
“If Cisse isn’t called up to the national team, I don’t know who could be called up. I think there are a lot of young players in Italy: they need to grow and gain experience, but right now Cisse is definitely someone to keep an eye on. And Mancini has always had a good eye for young players.”
And Goncalo Ramos?
“Ramos is a striker who has contributed every year to the teams he’s played for, including two-time Champions League champions PSG. So he’ll surely do the same with Milan.”
Is Gattuso the right man for Lazio?
“Rino is a friend and a professional who has always known… who he is. Lazio got off to a great start this year with him, but I had few doubts because Gattuso is a fighter and is probably more comfortable in these challenging and difficult situations, rather than in a world of comfort.
“In difficult moments, he manages to isolate the team, keeping them out of the off-field problems.”
And what about Amorim at Milan?
“I like Amorim, but so far it’s just a proposal, just words and ideas. We’re facing a coach who wants an aggressive Milan that dominates the game.
“It takes time to see something concrete: there were some flashes of brilliance in the first two games, but much less so against Juve. That’s normal, because teams are still building right now, and the results of the first few Serie A games aren’t very indicative.
“Amorim needs to instill his footballing ideology, and he can’t do that in two months. The clear example is Roma, who under Gasperini started to gain momentum after a while.”
Milan for the Scudetto?
“Not yet, but it depends on how they grow, not so much as individuals, but as a team. Tonight I’m just going to enjoy it.”
