Gennaro Gattuso said tomorrow’s Coppa Italia clash with rivals Inter is “like a World Cup Final” for struggling Milan.
It kicks off on Wednesday at 19.45 GMT at San Siro, with the winners going on to face Lazio or Fiorentina in the semi-final.
The Rossoneri are sliding down the Serie A table, losing 2-0 to Atalanta despite a week-long training retreat, and the Coppa might be their best chance of qualifying for Europe.
Gennaro Gattuso said tomorrow’s Coppa Italia clash with rivals Inter is “like a World Cup Final” for struggling Milan.
It kicks off on Wednesday at 19.45 GMT at San Siro, with the winners going on to face Lazio or Fiorentina in the semi-final.
The Rossoneri are sliding down the Serie A table, losing 2-0 to Atalanta despite a week-long training retreat, and the Coppa might be their best chance of qualifying for Europe.
“This is like a World Cup Final for us. Nobody expected this many difficulties, but this derby can change our season on both a psychological level and in terms of results,” the Coach told Milan TV.
“I want to see everything we are doing, but above all to put the ball in the net. We’ve got to last longer than 25 minutes and hold out even after an incident goes against us.”
Inter are third in Serie A, but were the leaders a couple of weeks ago until back-to-back defeats with Udinese and Sassuolo.
“The keys are Ivan Perisic and Antonio Candreva, the wingers who we must block on the counter-attack. Mauro Icardi obviously needs no presentation. We don’t use man-marking now.
“We prepared in the right way to win this game. Neither side is in great shape, but nor are we in disastrous situations. We’ve got to press the reset button in an important game, as it’s fundamental to give our fans a positive sensation. We want to repay the supporters.
“The derby is always different to any other game. Beautiful football is pointless here, as we need determination, hunger and a sense of belonging to the club. We must all give more, otherwise we won’t win. We have to play and win for our fans.”
Suso and Alessio Romagnoli were suspended for the most recent home defeat to Atalanta, but return against Inter, while Gianluigi Donnarumma should start despite a slight groin problem.
“We do miss Suso when he’s not there. He is crucial and can take men on. I will admit, I thought it’d take less time to put the negativity and fear behind us. It’s taking longer than expected.”
Milan squad for Inter: A Donnarumma, G Donnarumma, Storari; Abate, Antonelli, Bonucci, Calabria, Musacchio, Paletta, Rodriguez, Romagnoli, Zapata; Biglia, Bonaventura, Borini, Calhanoglu, Kessie, Locatelli, Montolivo; Cutrone, Kalinic, André Silva, Suso