2023-05-09 10:03:41
Despite the periods of absence that Inter went through, coach Simone Inzaghi’s men are entering the confrontation against their arch-neighbor with a deadly attack and an additional dose of confidence, after they won 5 consecutive matches in various competitions.
AC Milan is preparing to play its most prominent local derby in decades, facing the second pole of Milan Inter, where two of the oldest European clubs will meet on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
The two poles of the city of Milan are awaiting two confrontations full of color, noise and drama in one of the most prominent football capitals in the old continent, with the first chapter of the confrontation at the “San Siro” stadium before the second on the 16th of this month, back at the “Giuseppe Meazza” stadium, for the opportunity to raise the outcome The Italian city of European Cups to 22.
Milan and Inter were absent from the most prominent European arena, unlike the two sides of the second golden square that brings together Real Madrid, the Spanish champions for a record 14 times, and the brilliant Manchester City in recent years thanks to its Spanish coach, Pep Guardiola. However, Wednesday’s match will be unique in terms of atmosphere and takes place in one of the most exciting football stadiums.
Frenchman Pierre Kalulu, Milan defender, described in an interview with Agence France-Presse what is happening in the Milan derby, saying, “The atmosphere in the stadium is unbelievable… Everyone here is fans, men and women. The pressure is there all the time.”
“When you first arrive here you don’t feel all these things, but after a while you start to feel this passion. You can feel that it is a match that can change your season.”
And the 22-year-old added, “It kind of goes back to being a kid scoring a goal in a field behind the house. You put all these feelings into the Champions League and I can’t imagine what these matches will be like.”
The fate of Inter and Milan is linked to the oldest European continental competition, as they were unable to resolve their qualification to the Champions League next year due to the disappointing results in the league, as the first occupies fourth place with 63 points, followed by the second in fifth place, two points behind. The two clubs are miles behind Napoli, who won the title for the third time in its history.
Despite the periods of absence that Inter went through, coach Simone Inzaghi’s men are entering the confrontation against their arch-neighbor with a deadly attack and an additional dose of confidence after they won 5 consecutive matches in various competitions, during which they scored 15 goals, including 10 with attackers’ feet, led by the Belgian Romelu Lukaku, who returned To shine after his decline in form since his return to Italy on loan from Chelsea.
Since the start of April, Lukaku has scored five goals and provided four assists in all competitions, and his left-footed strike in Saturday’s 2-0 Serie A win over AS Roma was the latest sign that the Belgium forward could be back to his best.
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Lukaku intends to stay at Inter, but the chances of achieving his endeavor seem slim in terms of extending his loan until after the end of the season, which may end with him being crowned European champion, or perhaps not reserving a seat in the competition next season, according to the results of the team in “Serie A”.
“The most important thing is Inter. All I can focus on is helping the team,” said Lukaku.
Like the Belgian, the Argentine World Cup champion, Lautaro Martinez, regained his scoring prowess, scoring 6 goals in the same number of matches, and making 3 after an eight-match fasting period.
Veteran Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko (37 years old) is also considered an additional trump card in the team since he returned to scoring after a lean period since January.
Unlike Inter, Milan is living its last days on the impact of the physical condition of its Portuguese star, Rafael Liao, who has shown in recent weeks his importance in the attack of coach Stefano Pioli, but he fell into the trap of injury in his thigh during the 2-0 victory over Lazio last week.
The numbers indicate Liao’s role. Of the eight matches this season that Liao missed due to injury or did not participate in, Milan won only one.
The Portuguese winger started each of Milan’s ten continental matches and was decisive in overtaking the newly crowned Italian champion Napoli in the final price round, as he kicked off the “Diego Armando Maradona” stadium with the ball from his team’s penalty area, bypassed 3 players, penetrated into the opponent’s area and passed a back ball to his colleague. Frenchman Olivier Giroud followed her into the goal.
Liao’s performance clearly showed the difference he brings to the team when he’s in a good mood.
Without him, Milan’s chances will diminish against his brilliant neighbor Inter, as the left wing, with Frenchman Theo Hernandez, is an important part of the team’s attacking method.
“We need to enjoy everything around us until the minute before kick-off, and then we need to unload everything we have,” Pioli said at the weekend.
He continued, “Inter are in good shape now, and they are a great team. I don’t think we are the favourites, but it doesn’t matter, we are in good shape.”
The Italian coach concluded, “We are in the Champions League semi-finals, and this is the first time for almost all of us. We need to feel electrified and excited on this occasion.”
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