In 22 Serie A matches AC Milan and Inter have contested this season, attacking intent and an inability to defend in equal measure have contributed to an impressive 67 goal return for spectators. This this leads to the expectancy that Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina would be just as entertaining — albeit of low technical quality — a meeting.
However, since both sides last kicked a ball, the setting for the 213th edition has changed significantly with Roberto Mancini returning to the Nerazzurri bench.
Suddenly expectations of an open and attacking game have disappeared with the cagey Italian tactician sure to focus on a positive start to his second spell and hauling them up from ninth position.
While the 49-year-old would insist his style is “win first” as opposed to “defence first,” he is adept at setting his sides up not to concede. Even with a squad a shadow of that which he left Jose Mourinho in 2008, Mancini will be confident Inter can be organised and tough to break down.
“When you don’t concede a goal you win 90 per cent of the time,” Mancini told The Guardian whilst at Manchester City. “I prefer we are boring for two to three matches, I like 1–0 wins.
“If you watch teams that won titles, they conceded very few goals.”
His 2007-08 title-winning Inter side conceded the fewest goals in Serie A, and a return of that miserly approach can yet bring him Champions League qualification given Napoli, AC Milan & Co all stuttering their way through the campaign.
Mancini arrived to find an Inter over reliant on the predatory instincts of Mauro Icardi, and having less than a week on the training pitch to coordinate anything resembling a synchronized offensive blueprint.
However, Mancini will likely have reservations about reverting to his conservative tendencies ahead of a match where fans will be expecting an instant reaction. Particularly, missing a vital defensive cog in Gary Medel (through suspension) and Yann M’Vila (through injury and yet to have proven himself).
In his debut season at Inter, his pragmatic and cautious approach backfired; losing all their league meetings, albeit by no more than two goals, and winning just four from 10 during Inter’s period of Serie A supremacy.
That dominance was diluted in the eyes of many by the Calciopoli scandal that saw their nearest challengers for the Scudetto seriously weakened — or demoted in the case of Juventus — and Mancini will eventually want to prove that his trio of titles were more than merited starting on Sunday night.
An English Premier League title with Manchester City will have helped support Mancini’s case. Moreover, in the Champions League with Galatasaray, the Italian will have taken great pride in the tactical battle won against current Italy coach Antonio Conte, in yet another stereotypical Mancini display that saw Juventus knocked out of the group stages.
On Thursday the former Inter coach turns 50, and what better way to celebrate than on the back of derby success? However, something tells you that a 1–0 win on Sunday would bring an even wider smile to Mancini’s face.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
