Why AC Milan and Inter Must Restore Importance of San Siro Derby

Back when Serginho scored a goal in the derby, it meant something: Vital points, a spot atop the league, a blow to a rival. 

The Brazilian joined AC Milan in 1999 and played against Inter many times. He scored in the 6-0 romp in 2001—the biggest win in the history of the fixture—and in 2002, his winner in a 1-0 victory catapulted Milan to first in Serie A.

Neither year resulted in a championship, but the derby almost always played a role in the fortunes of either team. Serginho knew what it felt like.

Now it feels small, just a provincial skirmish among teams that live for this day. 

“It is clear … that this game has lost a bit of its charm from the past,” Serginho told calciomercato.it (h/t Football Italia).

Neither club enjoys Champions League football nor any of those special nights, and a league title is no objective. For them, this is the one day both teams actually manage to fill the stadium, a reprieve from the regular view of rows of empty seats at San Siro, the one time they can celebrate football in a city that once drew the world’s best.

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Derby #legends pic.twitter.com/6Qvwg3EJda

— Franco Baresi (@FBaresi) November 19, 2014"

Just look at the list of players who featured in this rivalry: Christian Vieri, Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, Andriy Shevchenko, Kaka, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo … it goes on. That star power no longer exists, unless we now consider Fernando Torres and Mauro Icardi the main draw. 

How depressing.

Milan are seventh, 11 points behind league leaders Juventus, and Inter are even further behind. A win the derby would not really alter the winds of either season. It would only validate (if temporarily) the work of one of the coaches, two familiar faces in this fixture. 

This is Roberto Mancini’s first match back with the Nerazzurri, and this is the first derby as coach for Pippo Inzaghi. Both could use a boost in morale, and in that respect, in a season without many big matches, the derby is a perfect opportunity to prove themselves. 

But the Derby della Madonnina should mean more. After all, it is named after the figurine of the Virgin Mary resting on top of the city’s duomo, the most precious of symbols. 

For years, this day also offered supporters a chance to show how great a city Milan is. Both sets of fans would plan particular choreography for weeks and unveil lavish tifos and mosaics behind the goals.

Last year, a protest robbed us of such a beautiful display. It was perhaps an indication of the state of the game, losing the one final thing that made the match so great.

There is still the kind of see-saw chanting between the supporters, each taking a turn to shout something at the other end. But it is mostly a day of pride for the Milanese, to show pride in their town. 

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.@acmilan e @Inter, rilanciamo con #MilanInter 7/5/2003, il #Derby che portò il calcio italiano in cima all'#Europa. pic.twitter.com/PGMyMWnLkU

— Serie A TIM (@SerieA_TIM) November 19, 2014"

Both Milan and Inter have respected the other since the death of an Inter fan in 1983. The ultras groups agreed to a non-aggression pact, and the game—not violence or any sectarianism—took its rightful place on centre stage.

Unfortunately, the players in this production on Sunday are not your marquee names. It's no longer the hottest ticket.