Arrigo Sacchi has shaken up the Serie A title race by arguing Milan play ‘more European football, while Inter are still stuck in the 1960s.’

There are only two points separating the local rivals at the top of the table, although the Nerazzurri have a game in hand to be played against Bologna on Wednesday evening.

“Milan are not the strongest squad, but they are the one closest in spirit to a European style of football, more international, along with Atalanta,” wrote Sacchi in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“They have a team spirit that few sides can embody. On the other hand, Inter have a much stronger squad, but the football they play is still stuck in the 1960s.

“Inter play that football well, but it is an out-dated style that doesn’t help them at international level.”

The Rossoneri kept top spot thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 victory away to Lazio, with Sandro Tonali on target in stoppages.

“Milan are made up of a group of young lads and a few old boys who have given so much. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no longer a great player at his age, but he remains a great man.

“The club deserves credit for balancing the books and creating a team out of mainly unknown players. They mustn’t lose that enthusiasm, that style of football.”

That is not to say that former Italy, Real Madrid and Milan coach Sacchi is critical of Inter boss Simone Inzaghi, though.

“Inzaghi needs to make another step if he wants to enter into a more modern football and evolve. I think the aspiration is to win at international level, much like the Italy squad did, by playing an innovative and courageous football.”

38 thought on “Sacchi: ‘Milan play modern football, Inter stuck in 1960s’”
  1. I guess Sacchi doesn’t watch football anymore. Inter was one of the most exciting sides in Serie A in the beginning of the season, we got a few setbacks and Inzaghi had to adjust the team to start winning again. And he lost 3 most important players in the beginning of the season as well, so I don’t know what he is talking about! Trying way too hard to be relevant?
    However, I fully agree that Milan (The club) deserves credit for their work they are doing so far, especially Gazidis and Maldini.

  2. Interello exactly what I thought.
    Gino, being bald isn’t has no problem. He probably has become blind.

  3. As a milan fan I don’t agree with Sachi about inter play football from the 60s.
    inzahgi inter play great and attacking football. They play great games against real Madrid and Liverpool. They try to impose themselves on those opponents and did it fantastic.
    Milan play the modern football but inter are good an fair opponent. Not like ugly juventus who play football from the 40s. 60s is a compliment for them.

  4. Etak, you’re right about Juve playing style but you’re an Inter fan, don’t hide it. It’s OK to be inter fan, nobody’s perfect!

  5. Strange comment from sacchi, maybe he is going senile.

    He would have a better case for his argument if conte was still in charge. But inter with inzaghi is about as “modern” as it gets for a serie a team.

  6. Milanista here but Sacchi has been senile for a while now. Remember his interview with Ibra? He needs to have another interview with Ibra after these comments so that he can get a reality check.

  7. I’m no Inter fan, nor do I think Sacchi is completely wrong, because Inter don’t play as attacking as people tend to think, but Sacchi really needs to shut up. Totally overrated manager, cleaned up with 3 phenomenal Dutch players and legendary Italian defenders and midfielders. I think my dead grandma could have won everything with that team. If you look at his record before and after those Milan seasons, he achieved nothing. Getting to the WC final was due to the brilliance of Baggio who dragged the team there despite a hamstring injury. Sacchi’s tactics included ignoring a superbly in-from Signori and Zola, and playing Nicola Berti (a guy who makes Rabiot look like Vieira). Grab your slippers and a Horlicks, old man.

  8. Hmm funny coming from the guy who defends 2G Max for dear life. Sacchi must be off his meds as he said last week that you cannot compare Inter and Milan in terms of squad quality. However he is a legend of calcio for how he reinvented the game back in the 80’s. Do not forget PhD Max won with Milan largely due to Ibra and Thiago Silva. He also cleaned up in his first stint with Juve as Conte had already built the house. The dinosaur just needed to put the keys in and there was no competition.

  9. Jonny Boy all good. On a side note I watched City vs Real and what a match. So refreshing to see two high calibre teams go toe to toe at 5G speed. Sacchi would have been proud but as for 2G Max, every player would be in detention for a whole year. You never play above 1Mbps with the Legend of The Ten Rings and the jacket would have been tossed, dumped and thrown on the touchline with the legendary CALMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

  10. I’m an Inter fan, I try to be objective by saying that Milan plays more modern football than Inter, because their intensity and absolute attacking-minded style does resemble that of Europe, especially top English teams, without the quality players of those English teams.

    But Inter plays still a far more modern football than 60’s.
    It is less European than Milans’, but generally still fairly attacking-minded with best team-work moves in serie A.

  11. @Lord – just look at Sacchi’s record outside of that Milan team. How come he couldn’t reinvent any other team? It’s like Sarriball at Napoli… If your style only works when you have total legends in your team, then maybe you don’t have a style.
    Tonight was a good game to watch but tactically speaking, City wasted a golden opportunity. They peppered Real with not much to show for it. If you can’t defend, you can score as many as you want. Now they take a slender lead to Real when it should have been done and dusted tonight. Zemanlandia has returned. Bet you loved that guy.

  12. Morata The Legend of The Ten Rings has never coached abroad and gladly accepted the return as Real Madrid, Man Utd and other moves were all fake. Perhaps he did have a chat with Perez but after hearing that 1Mbps would be the entertainment for the Madridistas, Florentino probably decided against the white flags being waved at the prospect. Don Sacchi at least coached the Nazionale and had a vision which worked. Pep has coached abroad and adapted his game to the players and the countries that he has managed in. The same goes for Don Carletto. Real Madrid have a never give up attitude and were adventurous when needed. If that were 2G Max all you would see is 11 men included Dusan behind the ball. The same one trick pony style is why they will never win the CL. Milan with the help of Investcorp are the best bet given time. They have the pedigree and just need the players. Same goes for Inter, just a bit more tweaking and experience. But the PL teams are by far light years ahead. The old banger is still stuck in the BC era.

  13. Funny to see all inter fans getting all bent out of shape – truth is, Milan and inter both finished champions league without winning anything – just participation trophy. Only difference is that I get players cost about three times as much as Milan players. Milan is also first in Serie A (I know about the game in hand but inter hasn’t won it yet). Let that sink in!

  14. @AD Please don’t show facts to @Lord. He’s as senile as Sacchi and likes to amuse himself with delusional stories. I’m waiting for his pop up kids book to hit the amazon self-publishing chart.

  15. lol not as senile as a person who cannot spell his own username. It is ambiguous as it is either no to Morata or Morata with the N being a mistake for the M. @AD showed the facts and the first one is the one that counts, the scoreline. Ball has to go in the back of the net to get 3 points. 2G Max spends more time with the ball towards his own goal then the opponent’s. But it is okay as you have the CALMAAAAA!!!

  16. @Lord Yet more contradictions. Allegri gets results which is how he’s won so much. Just Google his stats. But your usual gripe is that his style of play is boring and he doesn’t care because he gets results. Now you only care about the result so what’s the issue?
    Also, re usernames… You call Allegri a Lord, Saint and Doctor in the same post… Which is it? You seem to have a very confused opinion about him. Perhaps lover will be next?

  17. @slow ball, what do you mean Sacchi is off his meds?!! Isn’t he entitled to his opinion? Just like I said the other day, any idiot can appear on tv these day. And remember stai calmo 😉

  18. @slow ball, what do you mean Sacchi is off his meds?!! Isn’t he entitled to his opinion? Just like I said the other day, any idiot can appear on tv these day. And remember stai calmo 😉

  19. @Simpson Sacchi is no idiot and I remember the good old days of the 1980’s when crunching tackles were allowed and defending was an actual art form. Unfortunately the Legend of The Ten Rings has rekindled his lover affair of the 1940’s and I do not doubt that he is still watching re runs on his VHS recorder with MOrata.

  20. MOrata indeed 2G Max has won 5 Scudetti’s and reached 2 CL finals where he was whooped and never learnt anything. I knew you would bring that up for the 3000th time. PhD Max does not even get you results these days despite the ancient ball. Look at the table and as I have always said 4th spot is not acceptable for Juventus. Again Conte had built the engine and PhD 2G only had to turn on the ignition. Now there is no engine and the old codger is left with screws, bolts and the blue print scattered on the floor. You seem to have a hard time reading humour and sarcasm. The Lord part is to mock him and the Patron Saint is used as a metaphor as he is the guardian and gatekeeper for all things slow. The Lord is also used to imply his astute world vision as defenders of the slow ball realm such as yourself think he is up there with Pep, Klopp, Tuchel, Carlo and legends of the past like Lippi and Capello.

  21. @Lord I have no problem understanding humour when it’s present. I don’t think it’s just me since I’ve NEVER seen anyone comment that your posts are funny. Lippi also lost finals after winning the CL but he’s still a legend and of course, won a WC. Since Allegri won more than Conte and got further in the CL repeatedly, it’s fair to say that hid more than just turn a key. Any idiot would see that and actually, he was awarded manager of the year awards so either everyone else is an idiot or the likely opposite is true.

  22. Moe lots of people love my comments but it is an acquired taste. I do indeed take lots of stick but at least I am consistent and have been with 2G Max since his Milan days. I never flip flop. Certainly more interesting then your dribble and EU lack of personality, as you guys are snowflakes triggered by debate, opinions and only care about so called climate change and taking the knee. Many of the same fans who were full of praise for The Legend of The Ten Rings at the start of the season have soured. I was right again and will be for another 3 seasons. Shame on those fans but I give you credit as you are strict disciple of the back, back, down, down. Sandro is your role model.

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