AC Milan icon Alessandro Nesta has predicted that Sandro Tonali will be the key man in the upcoming Champions League derbies against Inter.
When the draw for the quarter-finals and the brackets for the semi-finals of the UCL were confirmed in Nyon last month, the possibility of a Milan derby in the semis for the first time in 20 years certainly jumped out.
Then, Milan took care of business against Napoli, beating them 2-1 on aggregate before Inter capitalised on their first leg advantage to beat Benfica 5-3 over the two games and set up a first ‘Euroderby’ since the 2004-05 season.
An interview with Nesta was published in this morning’s edition of Sportweek, who played in two European derbies and of course won two Champions Leagues, with his comments relayed by RadioRossonera.
Take us back to the days of the Champions League Euroderby between Milan and Inter in 2003…
“The tension. Having arrived that year, I felt it a little less than the ‘old men’, the team-mates who had been at Milan for more or less their entire lives, but in any case it was a very tough week on a psychological level.
“Ambrosini, Gattuso, they weren’t well. Silent, they were usually always laughing and joking. Maldini was apparently calm because, as he confessed now that he’s a director, if he, the captain, had been agitated, the rest of us would have panicked.
“Pirlo was instead indecipherable as always. I was lucky enough to stay in his room on retreat, so I slept very well. The first and perhaps only time I struggled before the match was right on the eve of the Champions League final in 2003, against Juve.
“It wasn’t so much for the opponent as for the fact that the Champions League, intended as a trophy, until then I had only seen it on TV, and instead the next day I would have had it at hand.
“I, on the other hand, was curious to understand how big the disappointment would have been if we had been eliminated, and how much the excitement would have been if we had continued.”
What was the atmosphere like in the city and in the dressing room?
“There was electricity in the street in Milan, even if, coming from Lazio, I felt that the atmosphere was a bit detached compared to Rome. Even at Milanello, the day before, we were in game mode.
“There was a ghostly silence. After the 1-1 at their home that had given us qualification for the final, I went back to the dressing room and sat down to relax for half an hour. I was like a guy who goes to the dentist all worried and nervous and then once the tooth is out and the pain passes, it finally relaxes the nerves.
“Afterwards, we celebrated loudly: we had kicked Inter out and were going to play for a Champions Cup final that Milan hadn’t played in for a long time.”
Can you pick out any key moments from the 2003 Euroderby?
“One: Shevchenko’s 1-0 goal at their home after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Sheva wins the tackle with Cordoba on the edge of the box and scores in splits with a rising shot, beating Toldo who came out. I was serene because I knew I had players capable of scoring goals in important matches in the team. One was Sheva.
“Second moment: the equaliser by Oba Martins. There was a throw that went over Maldini, the other took up a position and scored. Honestly, we didn’t expect to concede that goal because we were in control.”
What was the battle with Materazzi like?
“Did we give it to each other? But no, we knew each other and there was great respect. Sure, there were those you argued with. One for all. Come on, it’s easy. Materazzi. My friend, wonderful person off the pitch, but in the derbies between us there were no talk of mothers or sisters.”
What about the game between Pioli’s Milan and Inzaghi’s Inter?
“I don’t think they will be beautiful, because the two teams are afraid of each other. They will study each other, they will stay a bit ‘flat’. Inter will stay deep to limit Leao, because if he gets behind, he’ll break through you.
“It will take an incident to uncork the games. For me Inter have a superior squad, because they are deeper, and the five changes allowed today could have a big impact. On the other hand, Milan are more of a team, and have fewer concentration drops.
“It’s natural for the Rossoneri to stay concentrated, for the opponents a little less. And if Inter get distracted, they always pay, just look at the two goals scored in five minutes against Benfica in Milan.
“I also believe that Milan have an unusual team spirit. The return match played in the quarter-finals in Naples demonstrates a very important unity.
“Inter are a physical team? But also Milan, perhaps in a different way. Tonali and Bennacer are two midfielders with a lot of heart. Maybe they don’t have a super dribble. On the contrary, Inter’s midfield is not just running and power: Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Barella are technical players.”
Can you pick a man of the match for the games?
“Tonali. he embodies the Milan spirit I was talking about. And Brozovic, a fundamental player for Inter. If he plays, everyone plays. It will be difficult for Pioli and Inzaghi to surprise each other. Pioli will have to limit Brozo as he did with Lobotka.”
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