San Siro turns on the lights. On Juventus fresh from a European venture, but also, if not above all, on one of the strangest Italian derbies ever (18 pm). "Fault" of the black and whites, too quick to win the Scudetto and even better at reaching the Champions League final. Hence the move of the Italian Cup to next Wednesday, with the consequent zeroing of interest in today's match. “Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon, Evra and Vidal will stay in Turin – admitted Massimiliano Allegri in the press conference. – I'll have the chance to make them catch their breath, also because we'll have the final against Lazio on Wednesday. However, it's still an Inter-Juventus, we'll go to San Siro to play a good match”. The Nerazzurri's approach is decidedly different, called to win at any cost to chase the Europa League.
Such a distracted Juve imposes the three points, now more than ever. Roberto Mancini knows this well, but he doesn't fully trust the Bianconeri. “It will be a delicate, difficult match – he explained from the Appiano Gentile press room. – They play on the wings of enthusiasm, they didn't get to the Champions League final by chance. I congratulate you for the goal achieved but I repeat, it won't be an easy game: for us it's the last resort, we lost too many points”. Net of the pre-tactics, it is legitimate to expect a much more aggressive Inter, on the other hand, if it weren't like this, there would really be something to worry about. In fact, Madrid's Juventus will remain almost entirely on the lookout: apart from Marchisio and Morata, disqualified in the Italian Cup and therefore available, the others will rest.
Storari will play in goal, Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Ogbonna and Padoin in defense, Romulo, Marchisio and Sturaro in midfield, Pereyra in the trocar behind Morata and Llorente. Inter are decidedly less experimental, although they will have to give up two important players such as Hernanes and Guarin. The Brazilian is disqualified, the Colombian injured (season over): two good things for Mancini, forced to replace two of the fittest men. The Nerazzurri 4-3-1-2 will thus see Handanovic in goal, D'Ambrosio, Ranocchia, Vidic and Juan Jesus in defence, Brozovic, Medel and Kovacic in midfield, Shaqiri in the frontline and the Icardi-Palacio duo in attack.
Winning the last three games, conquering Europe and definitively diving into next season: here it is Mancini's plan, already projected on the summer transfer market. “The president wants a winning Inter and will therefore strengthen the team – he confirmed. – It is clear that someone will have to sell it, if only for a numerical question. Handanovic and Kovacic? It's a particular situation for Samir, he's in the last year of his contract and wants to play in the Champions League, Mateo still has enormous room for improvement, we're betting on him". Even in this, however, Juventus are far ahead. Marotta has already closed the purchase of Dybala from Palermo (28 million plus bonuses) and is also close to Cavani, leaving PSG. Yesterday then, together with Agnelli and Allegri, he received compliments from Antonio Conte, quite welcome given the start of the season.
“No one expected to reach the final – replied the Juventus coach. – We won it with merit, increasing self-esteem and awareness in our means”. No public rematches, just victories on the field. Those that, after all, interest the Juventus people the most.
