Carlo Pellegatti believes that Inter are the slight favourites to win the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan on Saturday evening.
Speaking whilst on Radio Rossonera‘s YouTube channel, the journalist explained his thoughts leading up to what is the biggest game of the season so far.
There is the potential for both Olivier Giroud and Pierre Kalulu to be out injured for this match which is a blow to the Rossoneri, but Pellegatti says Milan have had an overall positive week.
“Good week in general and especially good derby week. An early week awaiting the recovery of all the players, hoping they come back well from the national teams. We hope Giroud will recover and we’ll see the situation of Kalulu. Then we’ll see the coach’s tactical choices,” Pellegatti began.
He also spoke more specifically about the injuries that the two players have suffered.
“Giroud seems to be better. Light sprain, no ligament concerns. He has always advocated optimism, but we need to be careful because if it were up to him he would always play: but there is optimism,” he explained.
“Kalulu has fatigue and I’m told it’s pretty tough for him to recover. Let’s not forget that Milan start a good run of games after the derby, players must be fielded when they’re well. Kalulu is difficult to field, all the others are fine. Giroud’s ankle? He called it a general weakness. That worries me more than the immediate situation. His ankle will have to be managed. But in the end we took Jovic because Giroud can’t play every game. We already knew that, but all the more so now that we know that the Frenchman has this fragility in his ankle. Giroud is managed well, even though he is quivering and would like to play all the time.”
When asked about whether there will be any surprise with the selection in the defence, Pellegatti played down the situation by predicting that Simon Kjaer will get to start.
“I don’t think so. I see Simon Kjaer as the main candidate for a starting shirt. I was talking to coach and match analyst Luca Diddi today. The surprising thing is that he said that the loss of Tomori is a big loss in defence, but also and perhaps above all in construction. Tomori is the man who builds, the man of precise passing. We may look at him in other aspects, but his ease of setting up makes him an even greater loss,” he said.
Overall, Pellegatti believes that Inter are the very marginal favourites to win this game due to the dominance that they showed over Milan in derbies last season, winning four in a row across three competitions.
“They all say Inter, but this time the intelligent ones say very little, 51% versus 49%. I personally put Inter still favourites but really by 0.5%. I put them very slightly above because I don’t have the confidence that the derbies of 2023 are really water under the bridge, that Milan have really cancelled them out,” he said.
“I don’t see a difference technically, tactically or in the quality of the players or the coach, but precisely on a mental level. Milan have not taken the lead in a league derby since 17 October 2020. I hope that Milan, who have so many new players, have erased the memory of the Nerazzurri’s scorching starts, which often led to goals.”
“… Milan have not taken the lead in a league derby since 17 October 2020. I hope that Milan, who have so many new players, have erased the memory of the Nerazzurri’s scorching starts, which often led to goals.”
This final quote will be picked by Pioli at dressing room to fired squad up.
Inter’s Full team vs Milan’s without Tomori & not fit Pulisic & Giroud. yeah Inter will be favorite on the paper.
But can Inter keep our mids & forwards remain silent ?
– “Balance Finder” Krunic
– Strong & Skillful Loftus-Cheeks
– Accurate, Fast & Vertical-play Reijnders
– Explosive Leao
– Squishy Pulisic
– Towering Giroud