In a surprising turn of events, AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, setting the stage for an all-Milan final against Inter. Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi shared his thoughts on the match with La Gazzetta dello Sport, explaining the impact of new manager Sergio Conceicao.
An Unexpected Turnaround
“Who would have thought it at the end of the first half? Certainly not me,” Sacchi admitted. “After the interval, I was convinced that Juventus would defend their lead and then extend it. Instead, the story suddenly changed. This is part of football. I would say, in fact, that it’s the beauty of football.”
Inter Favored in the Final
Looking ahead to the Milan derby final, Sacchi sees Inter as the clear favorite. “Inter are not just strong, they are very strong. Simone Inzaghi’s team is mature and growing match by match, which means there’s great work at the base and a project to follow.”
First Half Dominance and Milan’s Mistakes
Sacchi praised Juventus’ first-half performance, noting their clear ideas, offensive pressing, and speed on the flanks. He was particularly impressed by Mbangula, who consistently troubled Milan’s defense. However, he criticized Theo Hernandez’s defensive error, stating, “How can you make such a diagonal run? It means not being focused, not being on point, not reading the development of the action.”
Positive Signs for Milan
Despite the poor first-half showing, Sacchi saw the victory as a positive signal following the coaching change. “It’s clear that, from a tactical point of view, Sergio Conceicao didn’t have time to make an impact. But the reaction in the second half was there. The group evidently has the energy to overturn negative situations and the football knowledge to face even a difficult opponent like Juventus.”
Conceicao’s Impact
Sacchi praised Conceicao’s ability to motivate the team during the halftime break. “I don’t know what Conceicao said in the locker room during the interval, but he certainly was able to touch the right chords. After all, he’s a very passionate guy who knows how to convey emotions.”
Looking Ahead
While acknowledging the progress, Sacchi cautioned against complacency. “Now, however, beware of feeling like you’ve already arrived: there’s a lot of work to do, many situations to study, several details to fix. However, the qualities are not lacking. And when I talk about qualities, I mean both technical and physical. If moral values are added to these, then Milan has important foundations on which to build the future.”
Tactical Considerations for the Final
Sacchi suggested that Milan could challenge Inter with their speed, particularly in attack. “If Inter suffer from anything, it’s the speed of opposing attackers. So Conceicao will have to work on this aspect in the coming days. He will also have to correct something at the back because in the first half, the defensive phase didn’t work.”
