Inter vs. AC Milan Preview: More to Hate

There are so many reasons to hate Inter, it’s ridiculous. But this season, they gave us even more reasons: they hired the former Juventus coach and convicted match-fixer, the fake-haired Antonio Conte. And as if that wasn’t enough, they also hired former Juventus mastermind Beppe Marmotta Marotta as their sporting director. The only thing that could make Inter worse is by adding so much Juventus. Which just gives us so much more to hate.

An expensive player and a more expensive coach

After dropping points in three successive league matches by drawing 1-1 against Atalanta, Lecce, and Cagliari, Inter finally managed to beat the mighty 15th place Udinese last weekend 2-0. For that match, the creepy-voiced Conte lined up Padelli; Skriniar, de Vrij, Bastoni; Moses, Vecino, Barella, Young; Eriksen; Esposito, and Lukaku. Martinez, Bastoni, and goalkeeper Berni are all suspended for this match. Handanovic has a fractured pinky, he is working to be back for the Derby, but missed out on Sunday’s match. Valero is also in doubt, and Gagliardini is out injured.

With Giampaolo as our coach in September, we lost the home fixture 0-2 to the soulless Conte and his cronies. But that doesn’t stop us from wanting to do everything possible to take three points from this one. Pioli has stabilized the team, and Ibrahimovic has brought his giant 6’5” (1.96m) mentality to breathe life back into this young, beleaguered squad. Although Milan stalled a five game winning spree with a 1-1 draw against Verona last week, there were seven players out sick, injured, or suspended for that match.

Ibrahimovic knows what the Derby is all about

Pioli will likely see the return of Ibrahimovic, Kjaer, Conti, Bennacer, and finally Biglia for this match, with Krunic and Duarte still out injured. Inter have more quality and have not faced the turnover in ownership, management, coaches, or players that Milan have in the last few years, but that will not stop this team from fighting to the final whistle for a result. Inter have shown that they are not as strong as they should be for having a coach that they are paying €12 million per year for and a team that has spent almost €180 million in the transfer market, while only selling €70 million. Don’t forget the €4 million per year they are paying last year’s coach, Spalletti. FFP much?

More to hate

There is more motivation than ever to win this Derby, especially after Lazio drew their match midweek and dropped points. Also because watching that overpaid, insane drill sergeant manage the team that took down all of Serie A is enough to make you want to vomit. But mostly, it’s Inter. Those whiny, cheating, scum-sucking, insignificant grass snakes who give the city of Milano a bad name. They are a blight on football and on the human race in general, and those are just the players. Their fans are racist, sexist, rancid, pathetic excuses for human beings. We let them win this one, and all of humanity loses. The Derby della Madonnina is a fierce battle, but this season, there is just even more to hate.

This post inspired by the music of UK Subs’ “Emotional Blackmail”

Serie A Week 23

il Derby della Madonnina

Inter vs. AC Milan

Sunday, February 9 • 20:45 CET (2:45 EST)

This match can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.