A derby always manages to get people talking, even if the match between AC Milan and Inter is a month away, and Stefano Pioli’s future heavily depends on the outcome.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) write this morning, Milan will likely play the game against Inter looking to consolidate second place but above all for honour, after the five derbies lost in 2023 and with the possibility that their rivals could become champions precisely with a win in the derby.
Added to all this and in all this is the fate of Pioli. As mentioned, the Rossoneri can do almost nothing with a view to the Scudetto, so the only objective would be to postpone the celebration of Inzaghi’s men for as long as possible.
Yet the result of the match against Inter – especially if it really came with the possibility for the Nerazzurri to mathematically win the title – could have a huge impact on Pioli’s future. Almost as much as the Europa League.
In 2023, Milan’s performance against their cousins was disheartening: five defeats out of five, including a Supercoppa final and the Champions League semi-finals. The fans are disappointed and are asking for a response also as a push to lead a challenge next season.
Precisely because of these defeats, Pioli has lost a lot of trust from the Rossoneri supporters in recent months. Therefore a victory with Inter could bring new life, also from a Europa League perspective, which remains the main objective.
The Europa League is already influencing the derby, because in the last few hours there has been a lot of talk about the calendar and date of the game against Inter. More specifically, Milan have asked the Lega Serie A for the match to be played on Monday 22 April.
The request is absolutely legitimate for the Rossoneri, as well as very sensible. The previous Thursday – April 18th – Pioli’s men will be playing at the Olimpico against Roma for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final.
Considering that the game will be played at 21:00 CET and that there is also the possibility of it going to extra-time and penalties, the Rossoneri would return to Milan late with only Friday and Saturday morning to prepare for the derby against Inter.
So Milan have made its request and today the date should be made official: it could be the first Derby della Madonnina in history to be played on a Monday.
