Montella throws down gauntlet for first all-Chinese Milan derby

MILAN — AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella has drawn a line in the sand against Inter Milan as the Serie A giant begins life under new ownership and desperate for victory in the first all-Chinese ‘Derby della Madonnina’.

“Inter has top players, but there’s no need for fear. Physically and mentally, we’re ready to give it everything,” Montella said on Thursday, hours after Milan joined Inter in being taken over by Chinese investors.

Five months after Inter forward Ivan Perisic scored in extra time to secure a 2-2 San Siro draw, Montella said the Rossoneri won’t make the same mistake twice.

“We’ve prepared to win this game, but we must keep our focus right till the very end. We’re still missing two points from the last derby,” he said.

With leader Juventus away to struggling Pescara and expected to maintain its sixpoint lead over Roma, which is at home to Atalanta, the fight for European places takes precedence.

And in a huge international media boost for Milan’s clubs, a city derby with ramifications for its Europa League hopes comes just two days after Milan’s long-time owner Silvio Berlusconi sold the seven-time European champion.

In a deal worth $786 million, the takeover by Chinese consortium Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux ends a 31-year Berlusconi reign that garnered

Silvio Berlusconi, Milan’s long-time owner

an impressive 29 trophies, including five of its seven Champions League titles.

“It is with a mix of sadness and emotion that I leave the club. I will never forget the emotions I felt,” said Berlusconi, who as the club’s “No 1 fan” can expect a rousing ovation on Saturday.

Milan is now reduced to fighting for the Europa League, and Inter is a direct rival when a sizeable global audience is likely to be fixed on San Siro stadium on Saturday.

As host, the pressure is all on Stefano Pioli’s Inter after two straight losses ended its dwindling hopes of Champions League qualification and showed that outside investment doesn’t always guarantee automatic success.

After a stunning 2-1 home loss to Sampdoria came the humiliation of a 2-1 defeat at struggler Crotone, which also dented Inter’s Europa League hopes.

“It’s our duty to do everything we can to win the derby,” said Pioli.

“We’ve had two bad halfmatches but we still need to look ahead. The Crotone match is behind us. Putting things right in such a big match as the derby would be worth double.”

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is expected to ring the changes for the visit to Pescara, days after a stunning 3-0 triumph over Barcelona in the first leg of its Champions League quarterfinal left the Turin giant with one foot in the semifinals.

It would be difficult, though, to deprive fans of the starry Paulo Dybala, who trumped illustrious compatriot Lionel Messi with a double strike in the opening half in Turin before Giorgio Chiellini’s second-half header.

Amid reports of interest from rival clubs in Europe, Juve moved to scare off potential suitors by adding an extra two years to Dybala’s existing deal on Thursday, tying him to the club until 2022.

Meanwhile Roma, with a four-point lead on Napoli — its direct rival for an automatic Champions League spot — can ill afford to slip against a solid Atalanta side that leads Milan by two points and Inter by four.

While Roma striker Edin Dzeko looks to pull ahead of Torino’s Andrea Belotti in the race for the the top scorer’s award — they are tied at 24 goals apiece — Atalanta will be no pushover.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad beat Roma 2-1 in Bergamo earlier this season thanks to a second-half winner by Roma target Franck Kessie to extend its unbeaten streak over the capital side to four games.

It is with a mix of sadness and emotion that I leave the club. I will never forget the emotions I felt.”