Former Inter captain Beppe Bergomi discussed previous derby matches against AC Milan and this evening’s Milanese derby in an interview in today’s paper edition of the Milano based newspaper Corriere della Sera.
First, the 56-year-old Italian discussed how he feels the week before a Milanese derby.
“With excitement and tension. But when I went up the stairs to enter the pitch, I had that feeling of entering a muffled place. It may seem a contradiction, with the San Siro full of people, but playing a game like this is a pleasure. I’ve played 44 derby games and the record, from memory, is balanced. 13 won, 13 lost and the others draws.”
Bergomi then touched on the most memorable derbies to him.
“Two unforgettable derbies. On September 6, 1981, my first goal as a professional, it allowed us to move on in the Coppa Italia and eliminate AC Milan. The other in the league. We came from the absurd elimination with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup, from one of my crosses came Aldo Serena’s victory goal.”
The former Nerazzurri defender also spoke about his most painful defeat.
“Sacchi’s first year at Milan. We didn’t pass the halfway line, we didn’t exist in that derby.”
He discussed the toughest opponent he’s faced in a Milanese derby.
“The toughest was Marco Van Basten, the meanest. Maldini, however, embodied the derby like few others, like those growing up in the youth system.”
Bergomi spoke about what previous Inter presidents asked of their players ahead of derby matches.
“Moratti, to take some of the pressure off, at his first derby he told us, ‘Remember that our first opponent is Juventus’. We won.”
The 56-year-old Italian touched on which players will be most important in this evening’s derby.
“For Inter Lukaku. For AC Milan I think Ibrahimovic because he’s always able to make a difference. Then the Rossoneri have the advantage of starting the game as the underdogs, they don’t have much to lose while Inter are playing for the Scudetto.”
Bergomi spoke about how he would deal with victories or defeats in the derby.
“If I lost in the night, I wouldn’t sleep. If I won, it was a party. But the result has an impact on the league. They are different points from others, they give a great boost.”
Finally, Bergomi gave his prediction about how would win tonight.
“One looks at the league table and says Inter. But it doesn’t work that way. The derby is a game of its own.”
Inter are currently 2nd in the league table, 19 points ahead of the Rossoneri. A win against AC Milan this evening would see them match league leaders Juventus on points, following on from the Bianconeri’s defeat to Hellas Verona yesterday.
