AC Milan’s last derby victory in Serie A dates back to over two years ago, precisely on 31 January 2016, when Mihajlovic’s team thrashed the city rivals 3-0, with the Rossoneri flirting with the top spot in classification at the time. Since then Milan picked up only defeats and draws in the Derby della Madonnina, except for the Italian Cup encounter last season, where Gattuso’s boys won in extra time thanks to lethal a strike by Patrick Cutrone.
That derby was decisive for the Rossoneri coach, until then penalized by unsatisfactory results and embarrassing defeats. A mach that saw the star of the number 63 shine bright but the entire game was orchestrated by another player coming from the bench, Hakan Calhanoglu.
HAKAN’s DERBY – The Turkish winger had not performed in his first months in the Rossoneri, continuously battling with physical problems and underwhelming displays even after the appointment of Gattuso on the bench of the Devil. Some even thought that the former Bayer Leverkusen did not like Rino, fearing a possible departure in the January transfer window.
Nothing could have been further from the truth, given that the Calabrian technician immediately praised the Red and Black number 10, highlighting his technical and ballistic skills. Milan-Inter was the second game of Calhanoglu under at the guide of Gattuso. Rino decided to enter Calhanoglu on the 73 minute in the place of Manuel Locatelli, a choice that proved crucial especially in extra time, where the 24 year old injected rhythm and gave Milan the victory.
REPEAT THE STORY – If we analyze the starting eleven of the Rossoneri in these two months, Calhanoglu is perhaps the player who seemed more in trouble compared to his teammates, still far from the glorious form of the second part of last season. This will not affect in any way the choices of Rino Gattuso, intending to deploy him also on Sunday, in the derby against Inter.
The Rossoneri coach is aware that the Turkey international, rather fragile emotionally, could turn his season around at any moment. And the derby, as happened ten months ago, could be the right occasion for the Mannheim native.
