With the first Derby della Madonnina of the Serie A season set to be played out on Sunday night, new AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic believes that facing city rivals Inter is the ideal opportunity to recover from their stuttering start.
The Rossoneri lost their opening fixture at Fiorentina, however, despite defeating Empoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza the following weekend, were criticised for their overall performance.
“This is the perfect match to unlock our potential, we are born to play these games,” Mihajlovic told the press conference.
“Winning a derby gives you self-confidence, but it is still just a game for three points.
“Right now it is the most important match, but in seven days there will be another against Palermo. We try to prepare like any other.
“It would bring great joy to win it.”
With some inconsistent performances during their opening two Serie A games, the 46-year-old believes they have enough depth in their squad to switch their playing style.
“I know we could change the formation with [Riccardo] Montolivo coming in, or [Nigel] de Jong in midfield can do fill two different roles.”
“We shall always have an alternative, but with injuries to [M’Baye] Niang and [Jeremy] Menez we are still not able to work fully, however, we have it in mind.
“We have great strikers and we want to exploit this as much as possible. Our midfielders are good and capable of scoring goals, I think that Milan should have an offensive team.
“Inter have changed a lot of players, and how they set-up will depend on which formation we play.
“We will try to play our own game and ensure the victory. I will field players which I see most sticking to my strategy.”
After spending four years with the Nerazzurri, first as a player and then assisting long-time friend Roberto Mancini on the bench, the ex-Sampdoria man spoke of his relationship with the Italian.
“I do not regret my past, my present is now Milan and I’m happy to be here,” stated the Serbian.
“Football is a game, fun and teasing. Fans sing and I have participated in it. Everyone sees things how they want, but it does not bother me.
“We’ve been friends for over twenty years and we played together under many coaches.
“I’m proud to have a friend like him. I’m grateful, and it is always a pleasure to meet him as an opponent.
“When we do meet we generally do not talk football.
“They are saying we are favourites and I will do everything to make their prediction come true and see Milan winning.”
