Former AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini shared his thoughts on the upcoming Milan derby during the Cupra Padel Tour 2024. Albertini, who played over 500 professional matches and 79 for the national team, spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport and mixed his analysis as an ex-player with the hopes of a Milan fan looking for a turnaround.
When asked about his expectations for the match, Albertini said, “The derby is worth three points like any other match, but it’s pointless to hide that it has a special value. I’ve played it in four different cities, but for me, the real derby is the one in Milan. I grew up in Milan as a Rossoneri fan, and challenging Inter has always had a particular charm.”
Albertini acknowledged Inter as the favorites, citing their growing self-awareness and cohesion. “Inter gives an impression of great cohesion that comes not only from tactics and technical value but also from the feeling in the locker room,” he explained.
Regarding Milan’s performance so far, Albertini was critical: “The results reflect what we’ve seen on the field: there hasn’t been a single match we deserved to win and didn’t win.”
However, he sees the derby as an opportunity for Milan to turn things around. “The fans are waiting for it with great concern given what we’ve seen so far, while for Fonseca’s players, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their value and reverse the trend,” Albertini stated.
When asked about potential game-changers, Albertini mentioned Lautaro for Inter and expressed hope for Leao to step up for Milan. “We’ve been waiting for Leao for a while in terms of consistency. No one doubts his qualities, but his performance is too erratic. We hope the derby will be an ‘up’ game and not a ‘down’ one for him,” he said.
Albertini also commented on the coaches, noting that Fonseca needs time to implement his style, while praising Inzaghi’s work at Inter. “When he replaced Conte, some said Inzaghi wasn’t a winner… His journey has been important, and he has built a team that has consolidated over time,” Albertini remarked.
Despite the challenges, Albertini remains hopeful for Milan: “There’s always hope: as a fan, I think the current players don’t want to be remembered as those who lost the seventh derby in a row and entered history from the wrong side.”
Reflecting on his own derby experiences, Albertini shared, “The first one as a child when I was ten years old. Another won 5-0 in which I was angry because we didn’t score the 6-0, and the return match in 1992-93: Inter wanted to come back, but Gullit’s 1-1 allowed us to secure the Scudetto.”
Albertini concluded with a poignant statement about the derby’s significance: “I don’t miss football, but I miss the derby. If football unites all social classes, the derby makes us all children again.”
