The derby of truth. We're only on matchday four but Milan and Inter are already facing a very important appointment for their respective seasons, perhaps even fundamental. Street number 224 of history (171 in Serie A) in fact, however it ends, it will have immediate consequences on the paths of the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri, who have therefore reached the first turning point of their championship. The special observers, as always, are Marco Giampaolo and Antonio Conte, even if the first, inevitably, is the one with the biggest viewfinder. His Milan have not convinced so far and the victories with Brescia and Verona have only helped him in part: the derby can ignite the spark, but also a real fire of controversy that would risk overwhelming him.
“Every game is good for turning things around, suddenly the one arrives in which you manage to do what you've worked for – explained the Rossoneri coach. – In the summer friendlies the team played a game close to our thinking, in the league we were less successful. The ups and downs are part of the coach's job, in any case the derby is a story in itself. I've experienced several in Genoa and I know what it means for the fans, for the environment and for the rumors and sensations. Our ambition is to play well and win." The diktat is the same as for the other three vigils, but now it's a matter of seeing if the team, this time, will be able to put it into practice. Giampaolo believes it is only a matter of time and perhaps for this reason he continues to insist on the same men, in the hope that, game after game, they will learn more and more of his philosophy than he does.
However, this means leaving out almost all the new signings, hitherto mysterious objects for both critics and the public: the club is silent for now but it is clear that it is not happy, which is why this derby cannot really be wrong. With these premises, one could say that Inter get there much better, but it's a pity that the Champions League took place during the week with all its load of bitterness and tensions. To discuss, in addition to the bad performance of the team, the quarrel between Brozovic and Lukaku, who reiterated two things: 1) the Nerazzurri locker room continues to have a delicate balance even without Icardi, Perisic and Nainggolan, 2) the "spy" of Appiano, the one repeatedly evoked by Spalletti, is still around despite Conte.
“Inter are talked about a lot in the media, I've found that it's always been like this – sighed the coach. – Even in past years many things filtered through, but this does not mean that you have to get used to this situation. It's normal administration, but other clubs are better at managing certain situations, we have to change bad habits all together." And so Inter finds itself in the paradox of living a derby from first in the standings (moreover with full points) without being able to enjoy it: Conte is trying in every way, even having the pre-match anthem removed, but the club, at the moment, remains "crazy" as per its DNA. In short, if the Rossoneri can't lose, the same goes for the Nerazzurri too which, at least on paper, should give us a really interesting derby.
THE TRAININGS – Giampaolo has decided to confirm the formation of the second half in Verona, with the exception of the suspended Calabria, therefore 4-3-2-1 (or 4-3-3, based on the interpretation) with Donnarumma in goal, Conti, Musacchio , Romagnoli and Rodriguez in defense, Kessié, Biglia and Calhanoglu in midfield, Suso and Rebic supporting Piatek. Some more news instead for Conte, who has decided to transform the 3-5-2 of the first four matches (including the Champions) into a 3-4-2-1 that will see Handanovic between the posts, Godin, De Vrij and Skriniar in the backlog , Candreva, Barella, Brozovic and Asamoah in the midfield, Politano and Sensi in the frontline, Lukaku in attack.
Before the postponement of San Siro, however, it will be time to go to Turin, where Sarri's Juventus will host Juric's Verona. A match of which very little has been said to tell the truth, if not for the fears of the Digos following the arrests of some ultras leaders that took place during the week. At the Stadium, for the first time, the banners of the offending groups will not be seen, with the risk of possible accidents outside. However, there will be things to play on the pitch and, above all, to win again: it seems incredible but Juve haven't been able to do it for two games, an unusual fact for them, used to plowing through any opponent, especially in Italy. However, the draw in Madrid was very different from that in Florence, so much so that someone started talking about "Sarri's team", for the better (proactive mentality) and for the worse (usual goals conceded).
“This is Sarri's Juve but with the characteristics of Juve players – glossed over the coach. - Teams are like children, each one makes its own path, for this it is possible that my Naples will never be seen here”. However, there are some similarities, starting with the scarce use of turnover, beyond a roster so rich as to have no precedents. “In Italy there is this obsession. In England the teams play the whole season with 14 players – replied Sarri -. Let's see the situation, we have to prepare for the match with just one training session, then we'll see if it will be a narrower or wider rotation." The feeling (but also the logic) is that we will see many changes, starting with Buffon, his first as owner after his farewell (moreover with Verona) two years ago.
In front of him, in the mandatory 4-3-3, space for Cuadrado, Bonucci, Demiral and Danilo, with Ramsey, Bentancur and Rabiot in midfield and the Bernardeschi-Dybala-Ronaldo trident in attack. Juric is well aware that scoring here is almost impossible but he perfectly remembers what happened on 20 October last year, when his Genoa team drew a sensational draw. The Gialloblù coach will try again relying on a 3-4-2-1 with Silvestri between the posts, Rrahmani, Kumbulla and Gunter in the back, Faraoni, Amrabat, Veloso and Lazovic in the midfield, Zaccagni and Verre behind the lone striker Carmen.
