Gatt’s got derby plan

AC MILAN coach Gennaro Gattuso has urged his players not to fear rivals Inter Milan in today’s Serie A derby.

The first Milan Derby of the season takes place at the San Siro (7.30pm), with four points between Inter in third and 10th-placed Milan, who have a game in hand.

Both teams went into the international break in good form, with Inter on a six-match winning streak in all competitions and Milan unbeaten in eight.

Gattuso underlined the importance of keeping cool heads in front of a sell-out crowd.

“These games prepare themselves,” he told a press conference. “We need to be strong to not let the emotion get to us too much and not lose too much energy on the pitch.

“Inter aren’t just a strong team on paper – which they’ve shown in the Champions League.

“They have great quality and physicality and we must be very focused, we can’t afford to commit mistakes or be afraid.” Inter coach Luciano Spalletti insisted the derby was no ordinary match.

He said: “The derby is worth much more than three points for what it does to the minds of the players and the enthusiasm of the fans.”

The ‘Nerazzurri’ recovered from a slow start to the Serie A season to launch their winning run.

Spalletti added: “You could say this game is the thermometer to measure the Inter fever in the city.”