The Milan Derby is one of World football’s most iconic encounters, a game fans everywhere know will be an unmissable spectacle and that the supporters of the two sides will unveil stunning choreography before kick off. As the players emerged onto the San Siro pitch on Sunday evening it was clear this edition would be no different, the Inter faithful revealing their latest effort which depicted the club’s emblem — a grass snake — on such a grand scale that it covered all three tiers of the stand.
With supporters on the two sides of the stadium waving foil sheets in Inter colours, three sides of the impressive stadium were now black and blue, but Milan fans in the Curva Sud were undaunted. Clearly they had discovered their opponent’s plan before the game and responded in superb fashion, their own display showing two giant hands ripping the same snake in half.
At the same time, the two sets of fans exploded into life, delivering a cacophony of sound as they each launched into their respective chants with gusto and it was exactly as advertised; the stage was set for this prestigious fixture to entertain and delight as it has done so many times through the years.
Then the whistle blew.
Each side may have spent vast sums to overhaul their squads and cycled through a number of coaches before settling on the current incumbents, but here Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso would oversee a desperately poor game.
Each side may have spent vast sums to overhaul their squads and cycled through a number of coaches before settling on the current incumbents, but here Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso would oversee a desperately poor game.
Pre-match there had been much talk about a pair of prolific attacks, yet most who saw the game would struggle to recall a noteworthy chance by either side, or a save by one of the two goalkeepers. There were 45 aimless clearances, 135 misplaced passes, 20 fouls and seven yellow cards, with neither Coach able to properly affect the game in a positive manner from the sideline.
Even their substitutions were ineffective, Tiemoué Bakayoko, Ignazio Abate and Patrick Cutrone failing to help Gattuso, just as Antonio Candreva, Keita Balde and Borja Valero did little to aid Spalletti’s hopes. As 90 tense but forgettable minutes ticked by it seemed this tie — just like the last edition of the derby back in April — was going to finish scoreless, until Inter midfielder Matias Vecino received the ball out on the right flank.
He swung a cross into the Milan box where suddenly, inexplicably, Mauro Icardi was unmarked. “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist,” goes the famous line, and while Verbal Kint was discussing Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects, he could very easily have been talking about the Nerazzurri Captain.
As that 92nd minute cross headed towards him, Icardi had been almost completely anonymous. His 14 touches were by far the lowest of any player who remained on the field for the entire game, but the 25-year-old needed only one more to win the derby, planting his header firmly into the back of the net and sending Nerazzurri fans into delirium.
He clearly enjoyed the goal, but after the final whistle Icardi told Sky Italia that his side “must find consistency” if they are to have any tangible success this season. Already six points behind Serie A leaders Juventus, it must be acknowledged that there was a huge amount of luck involved in Inter snatching this victory over their neighbours.
Alessio Romagnoli should never have allowed Vecino to hit the cross, his defensive partner Mateo Musacchio fell over as he back-pedalled to track Icardi, and only Gianluigi Donnarumma knows what he was doing as he came off his line, realised he’d misjudged the ball and then flapped in the general direction of the Argentinian striker.
It was a comedy of errors only nobody was laughing, particularly not Gattuso as his side remain the only team in Italy’s top flight yet to register a clean sheet. “We lost because we didn’t play with the right courage, we were distracted and conceded a naïve goal,” the Milan boss barked when asked about the mistakes, insisting he would not “pick on individuals” and assign blame.
That is undoubtedly the right approach as he continues to try and improve performances of the Rossoneri, but there is still much work to be done across town too. Radja Nainggolan limped off injured after half an hour, and Inter’s balance in midfield appeared to depart with him, Spalletti’s squad lacking anyone who can come close to replicating the energy and tenacity of the Belgian midfielder.
But they must now press on without him as a match against Barcelona awaits. At Camp Nou the fans will not be bringing another brilliant display of choreography, but they will have to hope that this time the team delivers a performance worthy of the stage.
With Mauro Icardi, Inter always have a chance.
