Milan and Inter’s Champions League semi-final derby is more than just a clash between inter-city rivals, it’s also a duel between differing philosophies – faith in youngsters and trust in veterans, Apollo Heyes details.
The Rossoneri booked their spot in the final four stage of Europe’s premier club competition with a tense 2-1 aggregate win over league leaders Napoli, whilst the Nerazzurri worked hard to secure a 5-3 aggregate victory against Portuguese champions-in-waiting Benfica.
Milan and Inter are also the last two victors of the Scudetto, using different systems and ideas to achieve the ultimate goal in Italian football. One thing central to each of the clubs’ respective philosophies is how age comes into play.
When Inter won the Serie A title in the 2020-21 season, they had the third oldest squad on average, 28 years old exactly. For comparison, that campaign saw Milan’s average age be 24.3 years old, the youngest in the league.
The Nerazzurri relied on experienced players like Romelu Lukaku, Marcelo Brozovic, Samir Handanovic and Stefan de Vrij to help them lift the Scudetto, taking advantage of Juventus’ decline and the Rossoneri’s slow early stages of their project under Stefano Pioli.
A year later, the roles were reversed. Milan, then the fifth youngest squad at 25.8 years old, won their first league title in a decade, whilst Inter – the oldest team that season at 28.9 years old – finished two points behind, leaving them just short.
Pioli had placed trust in his youth, regularly using growing talents like Pierre Kalulu and Sandro Tonali, and emerging stars like Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez. This belief system has continued into this season, with the club picking up more prospects like Malick Thiaw, Charles De Ketelaere and Aster Vranckx.
Heading into their Champions League semi-final tie, the belief systems of the two teams will now be put to the test. Inter have their experienced veterans – like Lukaku, Hakan Calhanoglu, Edin Dzeko and Matteo Darmian – whilst Milan will again hope their rawer prospects like Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz and Tonali can rise to the occasion.