AC Milan: 5 Positive Signs for Club Going into Derby Against Inter Milan
While recent results haven't been so kind to the Rossoneri, they're going up against an Inter side that has also been struggling and just recently made the coaching switch from Walter Mazzarri to Roberto Mancini in hopes that it can reignite the organization and bring them back to winning ways.
As it stands, Milan are in seventh place in the Serie A table with 17 points, with Inter only a point back in the standings. A win could easily catapult either side back into the top five and give them a boost going into the Christmas break.
Here are five positive signs for Milan going into one of the fiercest derbies in European football:
El Shaarawy Gaining Form
1 of 5
One of the nicest goals of Stephan El Shaarawy's young career was scored two seasons ago in the Derby della Madonnina. It was his outside-of-the-boot shot right in the top corner which gave Milan the temporary advantage against Inter.
It was the culmination of his first brilliant season in Serie A, and really one of the defining moments that helped put his name on the map.
The 22-year-old is now injury free and coming off his best game of the season against Sampdoria, where he went on a mazy run and scored another beautiful curling attempt from the edge of the box.
With El Shaarawy as a shoe-in for the starting lineup, Filippo Inzaghi can breathe a sigh of relief as he can rely on the Pharaoh to attack Inter's wobbly defense with his very direct approach.
Is Mancini's Arrival to Inter Really a Bad Thing for Milan's Chances?
2 of 5
According to Sport Mediaset (in Italian), Christian Vieri said he went to dinner with Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, and was told by Pippo that he hoped Roberto Mancini wouldn't be signed by Inter before the Derby della Madonnina.
While the squad could be invigorated, it could also go the other way. Gazzetta confirmed that Roberto Mancini will change the formation from Walter Mazzarri's signature 3-5-2 to a 4-3-1-2 that allows more attacking presence on the pitch.
There's no doubt that Mancini has an interesting plan to bring the organization back to winning ways, but a midseason transition of this sort takes time.
A new formation could also take time to get used to, as the players now have to learn a different system under a new coach. Apart from that, taking out another center-back in what has been a very shaky back line could spell trouble for the nerazzurri and allow Milan to exploit the holes.
Milan Have Always Gotten Points in High-Scoring Affairs This Season
3 of 5
Milan seem to always get one or three points in high-scoring affairs this season. Anytime four or more goals have been scored in a match, the Rossoneri are undefeated.
These types of shootouts bode well for Inzaghi's men, as they like to play a high defensive line and keep pushing the midfielders forward to join the attack.
While this type of football is arousing for the likes of Zdenek Zeman, it certainly isn't the traditional Milan we've come to know through the past few decades.
Milan and Inter have conceded 30 goals total in their opening 11 matches in Serie A. This frenetic pace points to a high-scoring game with plenty of defensive mistakes. As the statistics show, this is right up Milan's alley in terms of how they've found success this season.
Alex Is Healthy Again
4 of 5
The latest report from Gazzetta says that Milan's summer signing Alex will return to action after battling various injuries throughout the course of the season.
The Brazilian is one of the few bright spots in a Rossoneri defense which has been porous to say the least. He brings veteran leadership, plenty of experience and an added offensive threat that comes from his long-range shooting ability and aerial presence.
The problem with Milan's back line is that it constantly changes on a weekly basis due to either injury or suspension. Inzaghi still hasn't really found his favored choice in the heart of the defense, but a healthy Alex has to be seen as the untouchable member of the defense.
Going forward, Milan fans have to hope that the 32-year-old ex-PSG and Chelsea man can stay healthy and anchor a unit that's looking for a true leader.
A More Creative Midfield Look
5 of 5
Even though Marco Van Ginkel has only played 31 minutes in Serie A this season for Milan, he could find space in the midfield to add a creative boost and help hold possession better.
Nigel De Jong is the mainstay in front of the back line, where he'll have his hands full containing Inter's trequartista Mateo Kovacic.
Alongside the pair, we could either see Sulley Muntari or Giacomo Bonaventura.
Either way, the point is that Inzaghi isn't going to be using the hardened three-defensive-midfielders setup any longer. With Bonaventura dropping back into the midfield three rather than playing as a winger, it adds more guile to a unit that has had a hard time stringing together more than a few passes, and often leaving the defense exposed by losing possession in a dangerous area.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
