Montella all set for first all-Chinese Milan derby
milan — AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella has thrown down the gauntlet to Inter Milan as the Serie A giants begin life under new ownership and desperate for victory in the first all-Chinese ‘Derby della Madonnina’.
“Inter have top players, but there’s no need for fear. Physically and mentally, we’re ready to give it everything,” Montella said Thursday hours after Milan joined Inter in being taken over by Chinese investors.
Five months after Inter forward Ivan Perisic hit an extra-time leveller to secure a 2-2 San Siro draw, Montella says the Rossoneri won’t make the same mistake twice.
“We’ve prepared to win this game, but we have to keep focus right till the very end. We’re still missing two points from the last derby.”
With leaders Juventus away to struggling Pescara and expected to maintain their six-point lead over Roma, who are at home to Atalanta, the fight for European places takes precedence.
“We’ve prepared to win this game, but we have to keep focus right till the very end Vincenzo Montella
And in a huge international media boost for Milan’s clubs, a city derby with ramifications for their Europa League hopes comes two days after Milan’s long-time owner Silvio Berlusconi sold the seventime European champions.
In a deal worth 740 million euros, the takeover by Chinese consortium Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux ends a 31-year Berlusconi reign which garnered an impressive 29 trophies, including five of their 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 “number one fan” will expect a rousing ovation on Saturday.
Milan are now reduced to fighting for the Europa League, and Inter are direct rivals when a sizeable global audience is likely to be fixed on the San Siro on Saturday.
As hosts, the pressure is all on Stefano Pioli’s Inter side after two successive defeats ended their dwindling hopes of Champions League qualification, and showed that outside investment doesn’t always guarantee automatic success.
After a shock 2-1 reverse at home to Sampdoria came the humiliation of 2-1 defeat at strugglers Crotone, which even dented Inter’s Europa League hopes.
“It’s our duty to do everything we can to win the derby,” said Pioli.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is expected to ring the changes for the visit to Pescara, days after a stunning 3-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal left the Turin giants with one foot, at least on paper, in the semifinals. —AFP