AC Milan are taking on their city rivals Inter this morning, and for Ruben Amorim, there is one key player in each department. 

As highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, Milan are entering the derby at a pretty clear disadvantage, currently seven points behind Inter in the standings. Ruben Amorim made it clear yesterday that the Scudetto remains the goal, but if the gap is increased to ten, it will be tough.

It’s true that Stefano Pioli, in February 2022, also risked going ten points behind until Olivier Giroud turned the game around. The problem is that his successor Goncalo Ramos hasn’t even scored a goal in the league since the end of August.

Furthermore, Cristian Chivu and his Inter have been in very good form lately and will be looking to end their seven-game run without a win in the fixture. It’s going to be a night with a lot of emotions, so let’s see how it will pan out on the pitch.

Avoiding individual mistakes

Mario Gila’s return is absolutely essential for Milan, but it will take more from them to regain solidity at the back. The Rossoneri have conceded four more goals than they did at this point last season, and six in their last two home games (as many as in their previous 29 home games).

Switching from Max Allegri’s low block to Amorim’s more proactive style of play has clearly come with a cost. Yet, it’s not like the Rossoneri have been pressing like crazy so far, which is obvious when you compare them with Inter.

The Nerazzurri have a much higher centre of gravity (54.7-48.5 m), they steal more balls in the final third of the pitch (41-28), and they shoot more from offensive recoveries (13-7). Meanwhile, Milan are continuing to concentrate, play vertically and run quickly.

There is also another truth that needs to be highlighted: too many goals have been conceded due to individual errors. Amorim is well aware of this and it might have something to do with the decision to start Sankhoun Diawara on the left, with effectively four centre-backs in the back four.

Rabiot is the key

In midfield, just like with Gila in defence, Amorim can count on another crucial return: Adrien Rabiot, the team’s top scorer along with Alphadjo Cisse (4 goals). For Milan, the midfielders are crucial with their goals.

The midfield is indeed the centre of Milan’s power, where the Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric reigns supreme and where counterattacks that end up in goal are born. Amorim’s choices in this department weren’t easy.

The most tested on the eve of the match: a 4-3-3 with Musah and Rabiot on either side of Modric, and an attacking trident of Moreira-Ramos-Pulisic.

There were fewer doubts for Chivu who has a tested midfield and, in general, the most coherent team in the league. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have problems. Against Venezia, Inter suffered six dangerous transitions, against Roma there were seven.

In the middle of the pitch, due to the pressure of pressing or laziness in the return, there have often been gaps to exploit. It’s extremely dangerous to leave that space against galloping players like Diego Moreira, Christian Pulisic, and Rabiot.

The Frenchman, who already crippled Inter on the counterattack as a Juventus player (goal and assist for Kostic), could become a key factor in the derby.

Captain America

Despite conceding one fewer goal than a year ago (10-11), as the pink newspaper continues, Inter appear to be more vulnerable at the back. The centre-backs have dipped in form and the conceded xG is much higher, which Milan will try to exploit.

Ramos is pushing hard to score his third league goal, which he desperately needs despite adding a lot to Milan’s game: 14 balls recovered (Thuram 4, Lautaro 5, Pio 8), 21 lay-offs (Thuram 7, Lautaro 8, Pio 13). All he has to do is find the net.

However, if the player that Milan fear the most is Thuram, then that player is Pulisic for Inter. He decided the penultimate derby, scored in the one that stopped the haemorrhage of six defeats, and also impressed in the Supercoppa Italiana.

He knows the art of hiding between the lines and striking from the attacking midfield, which Inter’s 3-5-2 often struggles to achieve. Perhaps he can celebrate his contract renewal by deciding yet another derby.