Legendary former AC Milan and Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta believes that the two Milan sides are mainly separated by the quality of their defenses going into this evening’s derby clash.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Nesta gave the view that Inter and AC Milan are close in quality but that the Nerazzurri’s edge defensively is the main difference.
Inter face their city rivals with a four point lead in the table, in addition to having a game in hand, but there is a real sense that the two teams are among the strongest in the league and that the match could have Scudetto implications.
The Rossoneri have been by far one of the strongest teams in Serie A alongside Inter despite a few more wobbles in form, and Nesta feels that it is only a slight defensive frailty compared to their city rivals that causes this to be the case.
“Inter and Milan start out on an equal footing,” he said, “especially in the derby.”
He went on that “Inter are in better shape, perhaps more of a coherent team and certainly more solid. But Milan have dynamism from certain players which few can boast in Serie A – I’m thinking of Leao and Theo Hernandez in particular.”
“Keeping up at the top is tough, and in today’s football these are the qualities that can be decisive,” he added.
“Without Ibra and Rebic it’s another matter, but in general, as a former defender, I’d say that I would prefer by a thousand times facing up against Inter’s strikers rather than the Rossoneri’s,” he added.
“I repeat,” Nesta went on, “in a style of football made up of duels and the fight for superiority, Leao is someone who can make the difference.”
“I like him very much,” he said of the Portuguese forward, “he’s always ready to counter though his decision-marking can be improved – today he sometimes gets it right, sometimes not.”
“If Ibra’s on the pitch and he’s alongside Leao or Rebic, they get up the pitch so quickly that you can hardly stop them,” he added. “If I have to choose, I’s rather play against Inter’s strikers than them.”
Defensively, on the other hand, Nesta stated that “Inter’s defense is currently meaner.”
“Both are strong,” he said, “Tomori’s presence is decisive for Milan, it allows them to keep the line high, he is fast and good at recovering, he has gained confidence and leadership.”
“Kalulu is fast and has a good solidity, even playing centrally, though he must be more calm with the ball,” he added.
On the midfield battle between Nicolo Barella and Sandro Tonali, Nesta analyzed that “They are totally different. Barella is more offensively-minded, Tonali is more there to give balance.”
“The former seems like he’s been playing for thirty years,” he added of Barella’s composed style of play, “Sandro has good feet but he is also proficient at winning back the ball, he has determination, he is like Gattuso with better feet.”
Nesta called the derby duo “The future of the Italian national team” in midfield.
And on the two sides’ coaches Stefano Pioli and Simone Inzaghi, he reflected that “Stefano has given an identity to the team, the players may change but the game remains the same.”
“The club and the coach have the same idea of football and it shows,” he added, “their work is bearing fruit.”
He went on that “Inzaghi brought lightness and freedom, compared to Conte who hammered his ideas into the team day after day, now they have more opportunities to enjoy themselves on the pitch.”