Gattuso: 'Milan Derby is a Final'

By Football Italia staff

Gennaro Gattuso fears Milan being treated as favourites in the derby with Inter. “They can afford to slip up, we can’t. This is like a Final.”

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“As a player, I could let loose more in a derby situation, but as a Coach it’s more difficult,” said Gattuso in his Press conference.

The Rossoneri are unbeaten in 13 competitive games, but were pushed to 120 minutes and a sudden death penalty shoot-out against Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday.

“We must be humble, respectful towards Inter and aware of what we have to do. They can afford to slip up, but we can’t. We cannot hold back. I don’t even want to hear the word ‘fatigue’ – no alibis. I want XI players who are fired up to the core.

“If we want to think of a Champions League place, then this is like a Final. We’re gambling it all. The thing I fear the most is the history of the derby, as usually the team that is struggling tends to win. I don’t like people saying we are the favourites, because they are eight points ahead of us.

“I fear Luciano Spalletti, who has a lot of experience in derbies, both in Rome and Milan, so he knows how to handle these games. I fear Mauro Icardi, who is one of the best strikers in the world and few can move better than him. He’s like a marksman, he never misses.

“I fear the idea some could think we’re suddenly fantastic and forget where we started from. We’ve done nothing yet and still need to become a team. We’ve got the potential to do great things, but mustn’t lose that sacrifice and hard work.

“I will keep smashing them with that, even if they glare at me and can’t stand it anymore, I will continue hammering at that nail.

“As long as my players show respect – not for me, but for the locker room, their teammates and the club – I will tear my heart out of my chest and let them play keepy-uppy with it.”

It is phrases like this that prompted Leonardo Bonucci to say Gattuso reminded him of Antonio Conte.

“When I’ve won what Conte has and put together 300 Serie A games, then we can talk comparisons. Right now we have a similar character, but that’s it. Being compared to Conte is an immense honour.

“I spent 14 years in that locker room and saw the biggest champions pass through. It’s true there was a solid club, as there is now, but the difference was made by the men in that room. I must defend that identity and sense of belonging to Milan, the one we felt every day when training and playing, that this was our home.

“I think the way you grow is by sharing everything and saying things to your face, even if uncomfortable. We only play like this because we all work together and that’s how it must remain.”

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