“Reaction” is the key word for the AC Milan player Serginho“emotional tension” for Inter player Beppe Bergomi: this is the reading of the Madonnina derby, unusual because it arrives on a Monday Night and could even award the Scudetto to the Nerazzurri in the event of victory. In a double statement to AGI, the ‘Concorde’ and the ‘Zio’ explain the unknowns of a challenge in which Pioli’s team will try to avoid the sixth defeat in a row in a derby and the nightmare of a tricolor celebration of the rivals in front of their own fans.
A particular match
“The derby is always a special match, but this one will be even more so”, observes the 52-year-old former Brazilian left winger, twice European champion with Milan, “we expect Milan to have a reaction. The defeat with Roma in the Europa League it was quite ‘heavy’, especially with how they played, always below Roma’s level.” For Serginho “this situation will put even more pressure on Milan, especially because they have Inter ahead of them who can win the scudetto right at their home”: “I believe that this opportunity is an additional stimulus for Inzaghi’s team and in fact, unlike the Rossoneri, I don’t expect them to be subjected to any kind of pressure, in fact they have the added peace of mind of having already won the Championship, potentially against their biggest rivals, and if it isn’t in this match, it will happen soon.”
“The derby is always full of emotions but this is a special match”, underlines the failed AC Milan player Bergomi (he was rejected at an audition), 757 appearances and 28 goals with the Nerazzurri shirt, “I expect Milan to do everything they can to not allow Inter to win the Scudetto in this match. But not only for this, also for give everything, for the coach, for themselves, for the public. Against Roma in the Europa League the character aspect was lacking more than the technical one. Here I expect a test of character.”
For the Sky TV commentator at Inter “the potential scudetto in the derby certainly creates emotional tension, the nervous energy can also take over.” “So it’s not a ‘normal’ match for them either,” he observes, “even if they have won the last five consecutive derbies, this one in particular is still difficult to face. The occasion is certainly significant, although I believe the important thing for them is to win the scudetto by obtaining mathematical confirmation as soon as possible, but not necessarily in this match.”
What is your personal memory of the Madonnina derbies? “It’s the most heartfelt match of the Italian championship”, he assures Serginho“having two such prestigious teams in a small city like Milan certainly makes you feel that extra atmosphere. Winning a derby always had a different flavour, even compared to all the other matches we played in Europe”.
“I have always experienced derbies with great intensity”, he confirms Bergomi“It’s the match I suffered the most but also the one that rewarded me the most.” I played 44 of them, even as an underdog or coming out of difficult situations for the team. I really liked taking the field in this match, it created a really nice atmosphere You could win or lose but there was always sporting loyalty. The best game ever to play.”
The Pioli case
It will almost certainly be the last derby for Stefano Pioli. “People forget what Pioli has done in recent years,” he says Serginho, “the scudetto and Champions League semi-final were a big surprise for everyone. Today he is second in the table. He did a great job. It is normal that the cycle of a coach in a club can end, he had difficulties at the beginning of the season understanding the quality of every single player who just arrived was good, because it wasn’t easy given the many changes in the squad.” “The ‘new entries’ are always a gamble, especially when they are very young”, observes the Brazilian, “as happened in Milan’s signing campaign: a player like Kakà can arrive who is able to adapt immediately, or someone who needs more time to settle in, with the city, the club and the fans. Pioli has given his best and you can’t throw away everything that has been created.”
Serginho he extends the responsibilities to the players: “At the moment Milan are not playing well, they haven’t found their best game and if this happens, we tend to place all the blame on the coach. I think the group of players hasn’t understood well the intentions of the coach, the chemistry with the coach was missing. I also notice that the new arrivals don’t seem to have fully understood the importance of playing in the Milan shirt, the attention needed and the pressure, in addition to what the fans expect.”
People forget what Pioli has done in recent years: the scudetto and Champions League semi-final were a big surprise for everyone. Today he is second in the standings. He did a great job (Serginho)
Also Bergomi the Emilian coach absolves: “I evaluate his journey in a very positive way, between the scudetto and the return to the Champions League, he has always shown us aggressive and intense football, and he has done very well. As far as I know him, he is not happy with this season, it wasn’t even last year as far as the championship is concerned. What emerges is that he suffers a little in important matches. In these last two years he could have done something more.”
Inter’s secret?
Finally, a thought on the incredible championship of Simone Inzaghi’s team. For Serginho “The opposite happened at Inter compared to Milan, the team today plays the best Italian football, with a less successful run in the Champions League. They have many important players, more ready and more prepared for new adventures, more mature. The new ones When they arrived they immediately found the chemistry I was talking about, their way of giving their best on the pitch, unlike Milan. So the team has grown and is even stronger today than last year.” “Simone was good at maintaining the group and integrating the new arrivals as best as possible, transmitting his philosophy of coaching and reasoning”, he observes.
Per Bergomi “It all started last year: at a certain point they talked to each other, they knew they had to get back into the top four places and they succeeded, they went to the Champions League final, which gave them greater awareness.” “Then at the beginning of the season, despite having changed many elements of the squad, the internal and group strength of wanting to reach the goal and overcome the difficulties together was really very strong. And they showed us good football all year round” , underlines the former Inter defender.
Who will be able to decide the derby?
Per Serginho “Leao is the player who makes the difference, Theo too, if they play well, the team does well and vice versa. They are always everyone’s point of reference. Inter have more of a team game, the collective wins, with Barella , Thuram, Lautaro, Chalanoglu, Di Marco”.
Also for Bergomi “Leao and Theo are the two decisive players in Milan, when they struggle, everyone struggles”: “I continue to think they can be decisive in this match”. “At Inter, Lautaro is someone who feels this match very much and has always behaved well, and he can decide together with Barella”, assures the ‘Uncle’.