Arrigo Sacchi believes that Inter are stronger than AC Milan at the moment but they have a flaw which Stefano Pioli’s side must exploit if they are to stand a chance of progressing.
Milan have it all to do if they are to reach the final in Istanbul next month as they were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Inter on Wednesday night.
Inter started the better and scored twice inside 11 minutes through Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and although the Rossoneri were improved in the second half they were unable to find the goal that would have reopened the tie in view of the second leg.
Sacchi has spoken in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport about tonight’s game and has shared his thoughts on Milan’s mission impossible at San Siro tonight.
“A friend of mine, when he has to support the thesis of the unpredictability of life (and therefore also of football), repeats that only trains have a marked path: they run up and down the tracks and there’s no way to move them,” he said.
“But we men have destiny in our hands, in our feet, in our heads, and therefore, transferring the discourse to the field where, moreover, a ball bounces, there cannot be a result already written: nothing is ever finished until the referee blows his whistle three times, everything is always in flux.
“And so will the second leg semi-final between Inter and Milan. I am well aware that Inter have a clear advantage, because they won 2-0 in the first leg, but it wouldn’t be the first time that sensational comebacks have taken place in football: let’s keep our eyes peeled and enjoy the show, hoping that a show it will be.
“On the eve, there are some certainties that need to be highlighted. The first: Inter are going through an excellent moment of athletic form. The second: they possess individual qualities superior to those of his opponent. The third: they have more experience.
“One might conclude that there will be no match, but no, because the Nerazzurri also have some flaws and it is on these flaws that Milan will have to work. First of all, Inzaghi’s boys do very little pressing and give space to those who attack them. Not always, in times of difficulty, have they proved to be a compact team that clings to their knowledge to get out of the dark.
“Of course, if you give them goals like Milan did in the first leg, then they find a motorway in front of them and without even paying the toll…
“Inzaghi has recovered important players such as Lukaku and Brozovic, he has bet on an all-Italian defensive trio with Darmian, Acerbi and Bastoni, who are proving to be reliable, Barella is fine, Calhanoglu as well.
“These are values that must be put on the scale when weighing the challenge, without forgetting that the success of the first leg gave a fundamental psychological boost.
“From this it is clear that Milan must perform an authentic feat. Many times, in the last few days, fans have stopped me on the street and asked me: ‘What would you do if you were on the Milan bench?’. I’ll tell you right away. I would bet everything on pressing.
“You mustn’t give space to Inter, because it would be like committing suicide. Inzaghi’s team, if attacked, could get into trouble. And if in the defensive phase we must rely on pressing, in the offensive phase we must focus on counterattacks and attacks in the spaces.
“However, to be able to do this, Milan must be completely different from the one in the first leg. We need aggression and compactness, we need an angry approach to the game, the team must always be compact because in this way everyone is close, they help each other, they stimulate synergy between departments and no one ever feels alone in the field: there’s always a partner who can give you a hand, who can solve a problem for you. This means playing collectively.
“Milan, who haven’t invested in economic terms like Inter and which doesn’t have the experience of the Nerazzurri sqyad, must focus on moral values. Inter play very Italian football, and they do it very well in the last period.
“In order to contain the opponent, Milan must block their intentions from the start, must fight for every ball, must not leave spaces into which the full-backs or midfielders can throw themselves, must not concede the weapon of the counterattack.
“The Rossoneri are called to a challenge as hard as possible and for this reason they will have to give their soul on the pitch and will have to demonstrate to the world watching them all their humility and all their modesty.
“Furthermore, this aspect should not be overlooked, Pioli’s boys do what the coach has studied for them, apply themselves with all their strength to give the Rossoneri people a dream night.
“I know it seems impossible, but if you score a goal, maybe in the first half, the whole story can change. Because, as that friend of mine wisely says, only trains have a marked route.”
Sacchi should speak with the team before the start. He is excellent in this, the same thing will motivate the players à lot. Maybe à come-back should be possible with à speach like this.