Former AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini has shared his thoughts on the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana final between Inter and Milan, offering a balanced perspective on both teams’ chances and key players to watch.
Albertini, who won three Supercoppa titles with Milan, acknowledges Inter’s strength but believes the match is far from decided. “Inter will take the field with a vengeance after losing the derby in September. It will be very difficult for Milan, but being a one-off match, anything can happen,” he states. He points out Milan’s ability to perform in big matches, saying, “The Rossoneri have shown this year in big matches against Inter and Real that they can beat anyone.”
On the impact of key player absences, Albertini believes Inter will feel the loss of Thuram more keenly than Milan will miss Leao. “I think Inter loses more because Thuram has been a certainty in this first part of the season,” he explains, while noting Leao’s inconsistency as a persistent issue for Milan.
Reflecting on the semi-finals, Albertini praises Inter’s performance against Atalanta and Conceiçao’s tactical adjustments in Milan’s comeback against Juventus. “Conceiçao was good at changing the course of the match with his moves at half-time and in the second half. The Rossoneri deserved to win,” he observes.
Albertini offers insight into both coaches, having played alongside them at Lazio. He commends Inzaghi’s achievements and notes Conceiçao’s ability to bring out the best in his players, saying, “Sergio did very well with Porto and knows how to get the best out of his men.”
When asked about potential game-changers, Albertini highlights Dimarco for Inter and either Reijnders or Pulisic for Milan. He expresses surprise at Reijnders’ goal-scoring prowess and confirms his expectations for Pulisic’s impact.
Addressing the form of key players, Albertini hopes for a return to form for Theo Hernandez, stating, “Milan needs a player like him, a full-back capable of making a difference at any moment with his accelerations.” On Lautaro Martinez’s recent goal drought, he quips, “As a Rossoneri fan, I hope it continues like this. Rest assured that sooner or later he will break through because he is a champion, but I hope it doesn’t happen in the Supercoppa final.”
While Albertini believes winning the Supercoppa wouldn’t drastically change Milan’s season due to their league position, he emphasizes its importance: “It would be a beautiful trophy to celebrate, but changing the season I would say no… Winning the derby, however, can give the charge to chase qualification for the next Champions League.”
