Milan derby Allegri's most important game
Reuters - Thursday 31 March 2011, 18:33
ROME - Massimiliano Allegri has never
experienced a match as important as this weekend's derby with
Inter Milan, the AC Milan coach said on Thursday.
Allegri's league leaders go into Saturday's game holding a two-point advantage over their city rivals with eight
matches left to play this season.
"It's the most important game of my career," he told Italy's
Gazzetta dello Sport.
"It would have been nice to still have a 10-point lead but
it's also nice to be in a position to experience a derby like
this one. If we win we will go five points clear."
The previously unheralded Allegri took over as coach of
Milan in June.
Largely unknown outside Italy, he cultivated an attractive
brand of attacking football to lead unfashionable Sassuolo to
promotion to Serie B in 2008 before moving on to top-flight side
Cagliari.
Champions Inter are in second place, one point ahead of
Napoli and four in front of Udinese.
Milan have taken just one point from their last two games
and midfielder Clarence Seedorf said Saturday's match would
decide the destiny of the Serie A title.
"Psychologically it means everything and whoever says
otherwise is a liar," said the 34-year-old former Dutch
international. "Nobody wants to leave that pitch on the losing
side.
SEVEN YEARS
"It's been seven years since we last won the scudetto and
this team has won nothing yet. We've dropped too many points of
late but now is the time as we go head to head that we have to
show what we are made of.
"All of the best things in the side have to come to the fore
on Saturday night," added Seedorf ahead of the match at the
80,000-capacity San Siro.
Seedorf's team will be without suspended striker Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, who scored a penalty to win the first Milan derby
of the season for his team.
The involvement of former Milan boss Leonardo, who led the
Rossoneri to third place last season, as coach of Inter adds
extra spice to the occasion.
Leonardo, who replaced Rafa Benitez in December, has
presided over a terrific run of results which has chopped the
deficit on Milan from 13 points to two.
At the same time Inter have reached the quarter-finals of
the Champions League and semi-finals of the Italian Cup.
The Leonardo effect has revitalised the Nerazzurri who
earlier in the campaign appeared to be burned out after claiming
the treble last season under former coach Jose Mourinho.
"We might be considered favourites because of recent
results," said Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic who has scored
six goals in Milan derbies.
"It's been a historic comeback and we don't want to stop at
the vital moment. I'm sure they [Milan] will want to prove their
lead all season in the championship has not been a fluke."