Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti looks ahead to Sunday’s derby against Inter and discusses summer transfer plans.
The Rossoneri’s season hangs in the balance as they prepare to face their city rivals in a San Siro showdown.
After last weekend’s 4-1 win over Livorno, Ancelotti’s side are just two points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina and are desperately in need of the victory, as are Inter, who are looking to secure the Scudetto.
“There are 23 points between Inter and Milan and that seems a lot over the course of a whole campaign, but there isn’t a chasm between the two sides at this minute,” Carletto insisted on Fuori Zona.
“Inter want to win the title as soon as possible because shocks are part and parcel of football. But I think the Rossoneri are used to this kind of game.
“It isn’t a Champions League Final but it is something very similar to a Final due to the pressure and tension.
“Lots of players are playing for their professional futures because playing in the Champions League is very different to playing in the UEFA Cup.”
Pippo Inzaghi could be Milan’s key man, as the resurgent hitman has bagged eight goals in the last four games.
“I expected Inzaghi’s renaissance,” Ancelotti claimed. “He needed to be in shape to score goals and now he is.
“He is a formidable player and when you know him well enough you can see when he is fit and when he isn’t.
“He started this season very well and helped us in the Champions League but he just suffered a tough middle period.”
The Diavolo’s thrashing of Livorno last weekend cost Amaranto boss Giancarlo Camolese his job and Carletto has sympathy for the former Vicenza man.
“They are clearly a team having some difficulties, but the Coach could be the least responsible,” Ancelotti said.
“The team haven’t shown good character and maybe that’s why the President opted to make a change.
“I think that changing Coach can be an ace up the sleeve for a President during the course of a season, but I find it strange that they can call back their former tactician.
“I believe that the Coaches’ Association should be able to intervene because sacking a boss means that the relationship of trust with the President has been severed.
“The top men act like this because they don’t want to pay multiple wage bills for Coaches and they are just looking for the immediate shake up of the squad.
“Of the new bosses, I like Walter Zenga because he is one of few Italian Coaches who has had the guts to go abroad and work in difficult countries. That shows his passion.”
Milan are expected to make sweeping changes to the squad in pre-season in order to refresh an ageing squad.
“A player has never arrived at Milan against my wishes and similarly I have never imposed my will to sign a player,” Ancelotti explained.
“The Coach needs to be on the same wavelength as the club. I deal with the tactical side, while the club deals with the administrative elements.
“I was happy to hear links with Ronaldinho. He is considered a mix between a trequartista and a striker and his role depends on the players available.
“I think that he could play very well in a Christmas Tree formation or with two wingers and a trequartista.”
