Coach Raffaele Palladino insists Monza will face Milan with no fear, only the kind of ‘ambition’ that President Silvio Berlusconi would’ve wanted, while it will be an ‘emotional’ day for Adriano Galliani.
It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 11.30 GMT.
This can never be like any other fixture, as Berlusconi was at the helm of Milan for over 30 years and then took Monza from Serie C to their first ever top flight campaign.
When he died earlier this year, it left a huge hole in the hearts of both Lombardy clubs.
“It is the first time we are facing Milan without President Silvio Berlusconi,” noted Palladino in a press conference.
“He always said to me: ‘Those who believe will fight and win.’ So we will try to do it for him. He was very ambitious and we must continue that mentality.”
Berlusconi’s right-hand man for 50 years was Galliani, who will be in the stands at San Siro without his mentor.
“It is certainly going to be a strange and emotional week for Galliani. He is always with us and we now have to be close to him, as we seek to get the first points against Milan since Monza got into Serie A.”
Milan are coming off a midweek Champions League win away to Newcastle United that saw them drop down to the Europa League, but the injury list remains extensive.
“They are missing a lot of players, but big clubs always manage to find a way through. We expect a difficult and complicated game, so we must avoid mistakes, work on the details and it is fundamental we do not concede the first goal.”
Pablo Mari is still out of action, but Armando Izzo and Samuel Vignato are available after injury.
“Andrea Colpani knows what I want from him and he has to keep working even on the gym and his diet. The opponents know him now, he has to work harder and do more.”