Nicola Berti believes Milan have ‘no chance’ of beating Inter in the Derby della Madonnina on Saturday, even if Franck Kessie tries to neutralise Marcelo Brozovic.
The showdown kicks off on Saturday at 17.00 GMT at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“The midfield is where this game will be decided,” former Inter player Berti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“As far as I see, Milan have no chance of winning. Simone Inzaghi’s midfield trio is so well-matched, they look like they’ve been playing together for a lifetime.
“They have such intensity and harmony, I doubt Milan can handle the comparison.”
Hakan Calhanoglu faces his former club along with Brozovic and Nicolò Barella, while Milan are expected to play Ismael Bennacer, Sandro Tonali and move Kessie into a more advanced role to mark the Croatian.
“Inzaghi has nothing to fear,” insisted Berti. “Stefano Pioli can try to smother Brozovic by putting a pitbull like Kessie on him, but that would only free up space for Barella and Calhanoglu.
“Honestly, I don’t see how Pioli can try to neutralise the Inter midfield. It will be Barella’s game, I expect a lot from him. He is a force of nature, one of those players who fires up the fans and never holds back.
“Plus he is suspended against Liverpool in the Champions League, so will be out to prove a point.”
Berti: “Inter troppo forte in mezzo, il Milan ha poche chance. Punto tutto su Barella” https://t.co/GgW6d24Fkp
— Fcinter1908 (@fcin1908it) February 3, 2022
We didn’t hear from Berti for the last 10 seasons, now he seems to be providing his ‘opinions’ every week. Milan‘s midfield is not that inferior to Inter‘s, but he makes it sound like Inter is matching up against the midfield of Milan’s under 12 squad. Can’t wait to see Juve back in its winning ways next season and shut these Inter pundits up for another decade.
He should’ve known it first hand that ANYTHING can happen in a derby
Face it all Italian clubs are inferior when they play in Europe. Inter have done nothing in Europe over the last decade. Milan finished bottom of their group and could not even defeat Porto. Last but not least Juventus who have lost to Ajax, Lyon and Porto in 3 consecutive years plus failing since 1996.
Actually, it’s going to be a close battle. Diaz was the weak link, but individually, Tonali, Bennacer-Kessie trio, on their day, won’t be inferior to Barella-Brozovic-Hakan. The only downside for Milan is that they haven’t played much together, while Inter midfielders have.
A lot will depend on Bennacer’s performance, as Tonali and Kessie are a guarantee, probably.
Inter is a better, well-oiled machine as a whole though, with better strikers and better defenders.
Milan did well in the first half of the season but I dont think the can challenge Inter and I actually think they might finish 4th or lower. It depends how well Napoli and Atalanta do.
They over achieved so far, and having an old guy like Ibra as the focus of their attack isn’t a wise move.
@Tony, as a Juventino I have to admit you are correct, the last 3 seasons have been horrific in CL. We have taken some big scalps in campaigns prior to that such as Barcelona at its peak and RM but history doesn’t care who came 2nd. I was at the 2003 final and I think anyone old enough would agree that without the Nedved suspension, that CL was ours but again, history doesn’t care.
Derby is a derby, so anything is possible. Beside that, If Milan is in CL qualification zone, it means Milan is a very solid team so are not far away from Inter. As an Inter, with all due respect, I disagree with him. Having said that I can’t wait to watch this game between these two historic rivals. May the better team wins, and I really hope we as a football fans first, then as our respective clubs supporters don’t see any controversy in neither way! Forza INTER.
To your points @Tony and @Andrea… I also hope all Italians teams can put their thngs together and compete in highest stages even though the horizon isn’t bright as for now with all these politics surrounding Italian clubs …stadiums anybody?! The gap between PL and other leagues getting even wider.
FI, stop deleting comments with no reason when nothing offensive is written. Your filters are terribly bad.
I think I’m going to be on the minority by saying that actually Inter can lose or draw the match and still win the league. Milan along with Napoli and others will drop points against weaker sides (something that their fans seems to be delusional about with so many excuses like injuries and ref).Inter will be playing with less pressure than Milan. But I doubt Milan will survive if Inter do decide to raise the tempo and constantly attacks.
Juve can’t even get a shot on target against Milan and you expect them to go back to winning ways? Watch the genius Cherubini pays another 30 million for garbage like Kean instead of buying a much needed creative force. You can have all the attacking force in the world and Allegri will still set the team up like a coward.
Stating the obvious. Both Kessie and Bennacer so overrated.
@VIERI
Well, Inter should sign more Juventus players, coaches and directors just to try to compete for some tropheys in Italy. That is their only chance to remain near the top which belongs to Juventus.
@ Solointer I think you are on to something here. AC has to win, for Inter draw is fine. This suits Inters way of playing as well. If Inter wins the Scudetto is theirs, and congratulations. If ACM wins, the battle is open, but as you point out, ACM will loose random points whereas Inter is more steady.
As for Nicola Bertis claim, that ACM are without chances, well, it speaks for itself.
@Ramarren what does that say about your dumb**s of a club for sacking them? but sure deflect all your anger towards Inter for recognizing talent and keep kissing Angelli and Nedved’s a$$. Here’s to 10 more years of Arrivabene, Cherubini, overpaying washed up players like Rabiot and Ramsey, and hiring outdated dinosaurs like Allegri who’s even afraid of going against someone like Pioli. Clearly you prefer them instead of having competent boards and coaches.
Speaking of incompetent boards and coaches, the Milanese clubs are Kings in that department.
Last season’s league title cannot gloss over the fact that both Shinter & Milan‘s management have been absolute shyte for about 15 years now.
Even right now, Shinter management is fragile and if that Asian fraudster takes his money back to his Viet Kong godfathers, Shinter will end up like Salernitana.
Funny many juvefans speaks so loudly here, AC Milan will finish above Juve if tied on points. AC Milan was the better team over two games against Juve, a fact. And rather hilarious someone talking about European competitions. Milan was not good enough against the toughest opponents in Europe this season, and at least we have some European history to be proud of. I wish Inter luck against Liverpool but not in the derby. As for Juve; no matter how far they go, they won’t win UCL
What I don’t understand is Juve fans thinking that they are better in CL. But in reality history remembers winners and for Italy whether they like it or not it’s Inter that won the CL last. Even Tottenham reached the final but winning is a different story altogether.Also Juve fans like to say Inter should think about the present and not the past because of obvious reasons (calciopoli,CL final losses and other scandals) so right now logically who has higher odds of winning the CL based on italian teams remaining in the CL. If for some reason Inter actually go through after beating Liverpool (who are overconfidence and will be in for a surprise) Inter will automatically be favourites. WIll it be the same if Juve win against Villarreal?
Juve fags, if you have something to say it’s better to be said on the pitch ask your ladies to play better, these empty comments won’t change our mind, it make us love inter more and more 🙃
Forza Inter 🖤💙
All talk from haters about Inter this and Inter that but I can proudly say that Inter never was a Serie B champion, never been accused and relegated for a sporting fraud, bribing referees and officials and not to mention nandrolon scandal and so on. That is why I am proud to be an interista, forever.
Forza Inter!
Warehouses or whatever being torched, burnt down