If Inter are to reach the semifinals of the Champions League against Benfica tomorrow, everyone at the club is having the same thought – they want AC Milan.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that from President Steven Zhang to the club directors to the players to the fans, everyone around the Nerazzurri can taste another Milan derby on the horizon.
Inter have already faced Milan on three occasions this season.
The Rossoneri prevailed in a 3-2 thriller in the first league meeting of the campaign, whilst the Nerazzurri shellacked their city rivals 3-0 in the Supercoppa Italiana before winning the second league match by a 1-0 scoreline which barely scratched the surface of their dominance.
Last season was also a big one for the city rivalry that is always one of the biggest in Italian football.
Milan won one and drew one in the league, getting the crucial points and head-to-head advantage they needed to pip the Nerazzurri to the title by two points on the final day of the season.
Meanwhile, in the Coppa Italia, the Nerazzurri ran out 3-0 winners in the second leg to reach the final of last season’s competition, which they won in extra time against Juventus.
Italian football has been spoiled as far as one of its great showpiece fixtures over the past 24 months or so, but it may not be finished.
With both of the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri currently holding advantages in their quarterfinal ties in the Champions League, and the winners of their respective ties guaranteed to face in the semifinals, they could yet meet twice more, this time in Europe.
From the perspective of Inter, there is no doubt.
Whilst a two-legged tie against Napoli would also be welcomed, from the President to the players to the fans, everyone is keen to renew hostilities with their great city rivals Milan.