A derby is a game fueled by rivalry and history that sets it
apart from all of the others. There is that much more passion, the desire to
win is that much more intense. And, of course, there are bragging rights. But one
derby sets itself apart from the others: il Derby della Madonnina.
Watched over by its namesake and the holiest of women from her perch atop il
Duomo, Milan’s great cathedral, it is certainly not a game for girls. When
you share not only a city, but actual family and the rich history that Milan
and Inter share, this game is the mother of them all.
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| Forgive us, Mother, for we will sin |
AC Milan was founded in 1899, and was the sole football club
of Milano until 1908, when some members split off to form their own club,
Inter. Going forward, the two clubs would refer to each other as i
cugini, or the cousins,
having started as one family. But that is where the similarities end.
While both clubs have had varied success, Inter’s only real
era of success was in the 1960’s, otherwise known as “il Grande Inter.” Their
biggest triumph during that era was back to back European cups. They also claim
to rank third in Italian domestic titles, however one of those titles is a “paper
Scudetto,” awarded to them by their own judge in the court system in a
scandal Inter created and manipulated after they actually finished third that
season on the pitch.
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| Some things never change |
Ironically, that paper Scudetto came about after Calciopoli,
a scandal in which Inter were most guilty, as well as the protagonists of the
wiretapping and obstruction of justice that were central to it. More
ironically, one of their heroes from their only successful era, Facchetti, was
chairman of Inter during this time, and believed to be one of the masterminds
of the entire scandal.
Also not ironic is the success that Inter claim immediately following
that scandal, having personally relegated their biggest threat and given
insurmountable points deductions to all of their competition, including Milan.
As they not only literally took out the competition, they also poached some of
the best players at rock bottom prices from their competition, leading to a
brief and unprecedented period of criminally orchestrated success in their
history. And that is why I don’t mind holding
grudges against them.
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| Inter fans are such babies, they made a special kit for them |
However, even using illegal means to acquire success and
claiming a paper Scudetto couldn’t help them achieve actual success.
After Moratti poured billions into the club to no avail, then refused to waive
the statute of limitations once the truth about Calciopoli surfaced, Inter have
been in a constant state of changing majority shareholders. Despite being a
poster club for the need to establish UEFA’s FFP, they
have been granted much leniency in their FFP plan, and are in the
fourth year of sanctions in a three year plan.
Contrast their limited success with Milan, who were twice relegated
in the early 1980’s for financial discrepancies, then punished in Calciopoli
with a major points deduction by their Cugini. Despite having a corrupt
and criminal politician as an owner for over thirty years who probably actually
invested less in Milan than Moratti did in Inter, Milan have 18 Scudetti which
were won on the pitch, without any foul play. Milan won seven Champions League
trophies to Inter’s pathetic three, and have had extensively more success at
home and abroad throughout the club’s entire history of almost 120 years now.
Despite recently changing ownership twice in two years, the Milan brand is massive
worldwide, with nearly four times the number of fans globally as Inter has.
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| One captain is helping his club return to glory, the other works for a club that is hopeless |
Most recently, the meltdown
between Inter and Icardi has been Karmalicious to watch. But it also
shows the disparity of character between the two clubs. Inter buy expensive footballers
devoid of character who are only in it for their own glory, while Milan grow
and invest in players who are champions on and off the pitch, who build a team.
To that end, the return of a real captain to Milan by the name of Paolo Maldini
has been the impetus for the current form and return to competitive levels. A
competitive level that sees Milan ahead of Inter on the table by a single point
going into this Derby. Even if you know the
good, the bad, and the ugly of Derby della Madonnina history, having
both teams so close on the table gives this match the potential to be that much
more explosive, in addition to potentially decisive for a top four finish this
season.
This Derby is played in the legendary
San Siro, likely in front of 70,000-80,000 seething fans this time. Although il Derby della Madonnina is traditionally without the violence of other derbies, it
is also a derby of family, a rivalry like no other. It is a derby in which the worthy working class, who
have won everything for their good character and hard work face off against a
team of bourgeois mercenaries without trophies, who try to buy and steal glory. Inter's fans and mercenaries whine and cry at every ref call that doesn’t go their way, while Milan take responsibility for their sins. I hope the lady
Madonna closes her eyes for the fierce battle, as the crunching tackles and inevitable
fouls are simply not ladylike or holy. But for those of us mere mortals who love
football, this derby is the mother of them all.
This post inspired by the music of
Nitzer Ebb’s “Join in the Chant”
Our next match is
Il Derby della Madonnina
Milan vs. Inter
Sunday, March 17 •
20:30 CET (3:30pm EDT)*
*note the time
difference due to U.S. Daylight Savings Time