The Devil arrives and De Rossi no longer wants to stop. After three consecutive victories, Genoa awaits Milan at Ferraris next Sunday. A very tough challenge as the rossoblù coach explains. "We have to play a serious game, we shouldn't let it get to our heads. We are a medium-low ranking team and these are the numbers that say it, I don't want to belittle Genoa or our work. They are a great team, so we have to be courageous, aggressive but always aware that we are facing a team that if we are too bold could do us a lot of harm. Just think that a week ago they deservedly won against the strongest team in Italy." Milan who lost to Ferencvaros in Europe yesterday. For De Rossi, however, the opposite would have been better. "Seeing them arrive drunk with joy from the two victories could perhaps have been a small advantage. I believe that this defeat, considering the level of champions they have in the locker room, will have made them reflect on how important it is not to lose these matches and therefore they will be even more focused."
However, the coach has analyzed them well and knows what his Genoa will have to do. "I evaluated what I see on the pitch, the players they have and also those they lack, because a couple of players are fundamental for them. I believe they are a squad among the top three in the championship, very strong, built in a way that I really like, that I would like to have these types of characteristics in my team. It's a team to try to win the championship and I believe they will fight until the end. They seem to be growing, the derby certainly leaves some positive residue. We expect a very difficult match against a very strong opponent like Juve was, perhaps with even more individuality within the field."
A two-faced Milan is worrying: even Ruben Amorim who has let go of his proverbial 'good vibes' to launch into public and private outbursts. The Rossoneri's year will be complicated, even though things are going better in the league than in Europe where the turnover failed miserably.
The victory in the derby seems to be part of the historical past and with Genoa there is an emergency atmosphere. Seven injured, Terracciano, Saelemaekers, Gabbia, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Tomori and also Strahinja Pavlovic, who will not be called up.
The defeat in Europe shook the environment, a real trauma for Amorim, for the fans and for the entire club which will necessarily have to return to action in the next transfer window. The physical and emotional closeness of Gerry Cardinale, the post-derby party, and the encouraging signs that the championship gives were not enough. We need continuity, a continuity that doesn't yet exist. On the contrary, the Italian and European AC Milan seem like two different and distant teams.
Amorim doesn't look for alibis but the Milan of his dreams still seems far away. Yet what was striking was the absence of heart, soul, courage and a lack of attachment to the glorious Rossoneri shirt. as if the group had forgotten the club's values. A lesson not to be forgotten for a group that also needs time, patience and humility to truly grow. Tomorrow is an important stop in Genoa where we will be able to better understand Milan's mood, whether or not they have absorbed the defeat inflicted by the Hungarians of Ferencváros. Genoa appears healthy and confident and the trip to the Grifone is anything but simple.
Amorim must manage not to lose any more points in a championship that proves to be more balanced than the predictions, 21 points are not few but the distance with the leading group is likely to increase. After the defeat of the second lines, the coach returns to the classic and recalls the big names returning from the extraordinary victory in the derby. Inside, from the first minute, Pulisic, Moreira and Gila to impose a high pace and try to dictate the tempo on the pitch. Pavlovic will not be there due to severe colic in the last few days. In his place Diawara should play centrally with Bartesaghi or Estupinan on the left. Milan has all eyes on them, Amorim knows it and also knows how impatient the fans are. Another victory in the championship would serve to calm people's spirits as long as the time for making fools ends forever. It wouldn't be acceptable after three humiliating defeats out of four in Europe.
