Ahead of the Derby della Madonnina, most believed that it would be Paulo Fonseca’s last game in charge of AC Milan. Hopes were low for the fixture, which would probably have seen the Portuguese coach sacked. Instead, the Rossoneri have him to thank for breaking the streak.
After Tuesday’s defeat to Liverpool, Milan seemed vulnerable to facing Inter, especially after the Nerazzurri had just drawn against Manchester City at the Etihad – a stark difference in their performances.
However, this was not the case. The Diavolo looked brave from the first minute and arguably had the better chances of the game, above all, they can say they deserved to win the fixture, which they have not been able to say enough this season. Therefore, Matteo Gabbia’s late winner was a more than fair ending.
As Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, after 750 days, Fonseca led Milan to a victory in the derby, doing so with ‘courage and intelligence’. This was not how everyone had imagined the game to go, with the paper writing that everyone was ‘waiting for a solemn spanking’, instead, the Rossoneri delivered one of their own.
The Portuguese coach’s change to a 4-2-4 stopped the Nerazzurri in their attempts to build from the back with a constant squeeze, which in turn forced their midfield to ‘retreat’, allowing the Diavolo a greater foothold in the game.
After a heavy game in Manchester, Fonseca took advantage of the lessened levels available in the Inter tanks, and with only Sommer being ‘up for it’.’
Electrified by desperation’ Milan entered the game better than the hosts creating chances within the first 10 minutes, and in the 10th minute the Rossoneri took the lead through Christian Pulisic. A somewhat simple goal after Inter were caught napping.
A compact and courageous 4-2-4 that did not allow Inter to get a grasp on the game, a masterclass from the Portuguese head coach. Whilst the hosts were deserving of their 28th-minute equaliser, ‘the Devil did not give up’ and their ‘beautiful compactness’ offered a platform to build from.
When the second half began, it was much like the opening minutes of the first. Milan on top with the Nerazzurri looking tired and lazy.
Rossoneri chances were threaded throughout the half – on another day, perhaps the scoreline would have been more – but their success did not come until the 89th minute when Gabbia powered a header home.
Goals of the times. Pulisic represented the American influence in the derby before the two sons of Lombardia wrote the middle and final act.
The man who made Inter remember how much it hurts to lose a derby, the Portuguese coach was embraced by everyone with a Diavolo connection. With the suggestions about his future, making such drastic changes was courageous and bold, but effective.
A sweet night for the Portuguese coach, and a future has opened up for him and his team
