Club Focus - Milan - Milan Derby looms large

Setting aside all rumours and diversions will not be a problem this weekend. At this stage nothing is bigger than the upcoming derby clash between league leaders Inter and the surging Rossoneri. The encounter with the Nerazzurri will be the club’s fiercest test since the beginning of the season as this match will serve as a proper indicator of Milan’s credentials to win the Scudetto.

The trip to Turin was supposed to be a proper preparation ahead of the fiery tussle with Inter, yet the struggling Bianconeri were no match losing 3-0. Milan followed their Turin exploit with another scoring feast netting four goals against Siena with Ronaldino leading the charge. The Brazilian scored a memorable hat-trick and his last goal will be talked about for some time considering it was reminiscent of his delightful strikes during his peak days at the Camp Nou. The former Barcelona star is rapidly approaching top form and Coach Leonardo will be looking for him to provide inspiration and goals.

Ronaldinho has gradually raised his game to become the flag bearer for the Rossoneri with his performances improving dramatically from the early season’s inconsistent patch. He has now established himself as one of the club’s leaders with his displays and goals for the club. The Brazilian’s presence extends beyond the goals and assists which appear in match reports. He is once again a force to be reckoned with and Coaches will have to pay attention to the threat posed by him, which will free up space for Marco Borriello. Moreover, he has become to Milan what Cristiano Ronaldo was to Manchester United before his transfer to Spain. United’s players used to perform with more confidence with Ronaldo on the pitch as they were aware of the Portuguese player’s special ability to pop up with a goal out of nowhere to win the day for the Red Devils and reward his fellow players for their efforts.

In this case Milan’s players acknowledge their efforts will not go to waste as Ronaldinho can score for the club at any moment or create something out of nothing for his teammates to ensure they end the match on top. Earlier in the season, Milan did not have a player capable of turning a match upside down and virtually winning it with a solo effort or a moment of magic. Despite all the praise which Ronaldinho deserves, it would be wrong to discredit the improved team work and growing harmony amongst the Rossoneri players as these remain crucial factors behind the club’s current revival. They will most likely take on the top team in Italy without the services of the reliable Alessandro Nesta. The impeccable centre-back will be given ample time to prove his fitness since the latest reports indicate he is still suffering from a heavy bruise. It would not be a surprise to see him start this weekend as the medical staff at Milanello will be trying the very best to make sure Nesta is available for this top-of-the-table clash.

No matter how hard players from either side will try to play down the significance of this match in deciding the fate of the Scudetto, Leonardo and opposite number José Mourinho are well aware of the dire consequences of losing the derby. A Rossoneri victory is equivalent to winning six points as the gap with Inter will be reduced to a mere three points and the side will still have a postponed match to play. More importantly, the winner will build momentum for at least the next few weeks which could be crucial in setting the tone for the remaining fixtures in the season. Confidence is a commodity which cannot be bought but must be earned on the pitch, as the wasted millions spent by Juventus have shown. Only victories can create an aura of invincibility, which is something the Nerazzurri have been good at achieving. Following the Calciopoli scandal, Inter did not sit back after the punishments were dished out but rather proceeded to work diligently to create a behemoth all Italian clubs began to fear.

Again, results on the pitch are the decisive way to measure success and no matter how hard the loser will try to downplay the result, deep inside the defeated players will have taken a major knock. History is full of lessons and there is no need to look far back as Milan’s 4-0 loss to Inter earlier in the season showed how much damage a landmark defeat can do.