The triple dream is over, and the trend is worrying: Inter Milan suffered another derby blow in the Coppa semi-final that could have repercussions. Will Milan end up with two more titles?
Sergio Conceicao also has peaceful days ahead in his private life. “I bring football home with me, so my wife will also be happy with the result,” smiled the AC Milan coach on Wednesday evening. With a 3-0 win “at” Inter, Milan advanced to the Coppa Italia final after a 1-1 draw in the first leg – and could suddenly end the season more successfully than their archrivals.
While Inter must bury their dreams of a treble and could also come away empty-handed in the league and Champions League, Milan have their sights set on a second title after winning the Supercoppa in January. Back then, Sergio Conceicao’s team, who had only been appointed a few days earlier, defeated Inter 3-2 after trailing 2-0.
Milan has now beaten Inter for the fifth time this season
Milan is only ninth in Serie A, 20 points behind leaders Inter and SSC Napoli, but it is the derbies that seem to be saving the season and Sergio Conceicao’s domestic peace. The Rossoneri are unbeaten in five competitive games against Inter this season (3/2/0). And if they now win the Coppa final against Bologna or Empoli (first leg: 3-0), they will even qualify for the Europa League.
“The team has quality, but also humility and the will to win every game,” Sergio Conceicao enthused after reaching the final for the first time since 2018, thanks mainly to one player: former Frankfurt player Luka Jovic took advantage of one of his rare starts to score twice before half-time. “He has worked very hard over the last three or four weeks and also lost a little weight,” revealed his coach.
Inzaghi complains of ‘physical and mental fatigue’ – and misses Thuram
Inter, on the other hand, are currently experiencing a slump that was not expected after reaching the Champions League semi-finals. Starting with the 0-1 defeat in Bologna, the Nerazzurri lost two competitive games in a row for the first time this season – an untimely slump that is also likely to hurt FC Bayern. Milan once again impressively demonstrated how avoidable the FCB’s exit from the Champions League was.
Of course he is worried, admitted Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. “We’re not used to this.” The team is ‘physically and mentally’ tired, which is ‘no excuse,’ but it’s not good news ahead of the matches against FC Barcelona – especially since the recent postponements in Serie A mean that the Catalans will have an extra day of rest before the first leg.
At least Marcus Thuram, who was sorely missed against Bologna and Milan, should be fit to play against Barca. “Behind ‘ThuLa,’” wrote Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday morning, referring to the dream duo of Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, “there is a black hole six times the size of the San Siro.”
