Sunday 4 May, 2008

Carlo Ancelotti and Kaka were beaming after the derby victory rained on Inter’s title parade and put Milan fourth.

“We gave ourselves a nice present by getting back into the Champions League places,” said the Coach after a 2-1 win.

The Nerazzurri were planning their Scudetto celebrations today, but this loss and Roma’s 3-0 win away to Sampdoria close the gap to three points.

“Roma have taken big steps closer, but I think it will be difficult for them to complete the comeback. I think Inter could secure the title next Sunday with Siena.”

Ancelotti’s men attacked from the start, but after Pippo Inzaghi and Kaka’s goals were put under serious pressure.

“Inter, at least to begin with, had a much more prudent approach. This favoured us because we had the chance to build our play and more freedom for Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini.”

Fiorentina’s 2-1 defeat at Cagliari means Milan go fourth and it will be a very tight final two weeks of the season.

“I think this year we paid a heavy price for injuries to people like Inzaghi, Kaka, Ronaldo and Pato. Let us not forget Pippo was sidelined for three months.

“You can really tell the difference when he is in good physical shape and he knows that too. At the moment he is in a brilliant period of form and this allows us to have many different options in attack.”

Kaka set up the opener and scored the second goal himself to end a run of three consecutive derby defeats.

“We were missing the feeling of a derby victory,” smiled the Brazilian. “Today everything went well. They could have won the Scudetto, but they didn’t, and on top of that we recaptured fourth place. Now it all depends on us.

“We did what Inter should have done today. However, it does increase the regrets for the games we did not win at San Siro this season.”