Diego Milito believes Inter have the better squad and sacking Frank de Boer was a mistake, but “Milan are the favourites” in tonight’s derby.
It kicks off at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Inter have a superior squad, but for now the Rossoneri have proved themselves to be more of a team. Vincenzo Montella has done really well and I admire him a great deal,” Milito told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Diego Milito believes Inter have the better squad and sacking Frank de Boer was a mistake, but “Milan are the favourites” in tonight’s derby.
It kicks off at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Inter have a superior squad, but for now the Rossoneri have proved themselves to be more of a team. Vincenzo Montella has done really well and I admire him a great deal,” Milito told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The relative positions in the table seem to suggest Milan are the favourites, but often the derby turns those predictions upside down.
“In 2011, which was also after a break for international duty, we were fired up and instead Milan won 3-0.”
De Boer was fired following just 84 days in charge, having lost half his 14 competitive games, and Stefano Pioli makes his debut this evening.
“I think it was a mistake to get rid of him. He’s a great person with winning ideas who could’ve given a new mentality to both team and club. He just needed to be given more time. Unfortunately, when the results don’t come, the Coach always pays the price.
“Pioli is good too, maybe a bit more ‘classic’ than the Dutchman, but his teams are always organised and united. Now the players have to take their share of the responsibility too.
“It’s incredible that Inter managed to beat Juventus when playing so well and then those poor results followed. It’s difficult to judge from a distance, but the squad is worthy of a Champions League place. If they don’t pick up points, perhaps that makes it tough to create a sense of team unity.”
Pioli has to make his debut in the Derby della Madonnina, so is that extra pressure a help or a hindrance?
“I think it’s a help. He needs to shake the team up and Milan-Inter is the ideal fixture to do that in,” continued Milito.
“Beating the Rossoneri would be a turning point and give everyone more confidence. I hope it’ll be Mauro Icardi’s derby, but frankly I don’t care who scores as long as Inter win! From what I understand, there could be a call for Icardi from Argentina next time.”
Milito has now retired, but one of his teammates from the Treble-winning side has returned to Inter, as Walter Samuel joined Pioli’s staff.
“I am happy he’s back at Inter, because Walter brings charisma and experience. He doesn’t speak much, but when he does, people really listen.”