GATTUSO: “WE CANNOT MAKE A MISTAKE AND WE HAVE NO EXCUSES AGAINST INTER, THIS DERBY IS LIKE A FINAL, THE TEAM IS FRESH”

Gennaro Gattuso does not want to hear about tiredness and fatigue and is well-aware of how important tomorrow’s Derby della Madonnina is.

A win in Sunday’s derby (20:45 CET kickoff) would decrease the gap between Rino Gattuso’s Milan and Luciano Spalletti’s Inter to four points and would allow the Rossoneri to officially enter the race for the Champions League.

While Milan have enjoyed a good spell, the opposite can be said of Inter. But the derby has its own rules and even though the Diavolo are favorites for the match, at least on paper, anything can happen at a sold-out Stadio San Siro, when two of the world’s biggest clubs clash.

President Yonghong Li arrived in Milano this morning to watch the Derby della Madonnina and earlier today coach Gattuso held the classic pre-match press conference and stressed the game’s importance.

“I was aware the president was coming,” he said. “He will be spending a few hours with us tomorrow. It’s something that pleases us a lot because the president has always backed us and never made us feel like there was something lacking. It’s an important message for all the people who work here.

“The derby? As a player, I could let loose more in a derby situation, but as a coach it’s more difficult. We must be humble, respectful towards Inter and aware of what we have to do. They can afford to slip up, but we can’t. We cannot hold back. I don’t even want to hear the word ‘fatigue’ – no alibis.

“I want 11 players who are fired up to the core. If the team is tired? When you train for 70-80 minutes it’s almost the same effort you put into the game, except in a match there’s that tension you obviously don’t have in training. I think the team is ready for the derby, we also rested, and the team is fresh.

“We cannot make a mistake and we have no excuses. If we want to think of a Champions League place, then this is like a final. We’re gambling it all. What do I fear about Inter? The history of the derby, as usually the team that is struggling tends to win. Look at the derby we won in December which gave us the energy to do well in the following months. We have to be careful because I don’t like people saying we are the favorites, because they are eight points ahead of us and they are stronger.

“Spalletti scares me because he is very good, he has experience and is very well-prepared, knows how to handle these matches. The distance in the standings? The last four matches without Icardi changed the way that Inter play, they have impressive numbers, they are the best in crosses and they know how to work on more concepts. If I’m worried by the return of Icardi? Absolutely, he is one of the strongest in the world, few can move better than him. He’s like a marksman, he never misses. But there are also Candreva and Perišić who are of the highest quality, we must be very careful.

“”We approach Inter in the standings? I want a lot of things: win the derby, the Coppa Italia final, the Europa League and go to the Champions League. But we have to keep our feet on the ground and work with humility. For us these matches are used to raise the bar.

“The group needed these matches because that’s the only way to create a mentality. I haven’t said that we are tired, and I absolutely don’t want to hear about alibis. Tomorrow I will speak to the guys to see who is 100%. Inter are above us physically and this thing will weigh on the field. We have to be ready to give a battle. For us it would be easy to say that we are tired but in the derby we can write history, and this is fundamental for the guys. We cannot and must not be lacking in enthusiasm.

“The turning point of our season was the Coppa Italia derby? I was only thinking about winning it and redeeming ourselves after the defeat to Atalanta. In that period we disappeared from the field after the first slap, I knew that that game could make us turn but my head was only about the win.

“We are fighting on three fronts? When I arrived, I started working and I was convinced of the values of this squad. Now I fear the idea some could think we’re suddenly fantastic and forget where we started from. We’ve done nothing yet and still need to become a team. We’ve got the potential to do great things but mustn’t lose that sacrifice and hard work. I will keep smashing them with that, even if they glare at me and can’t stand it anymore, I will continue hammering at that nail.

“Biglia? A month ago, he was massacred but now he is growing. Everyone has improved, also Kessié, Montolivo and Locatelli. The same applies for Çalhanoğlu who attacks but does all the roles when he has to defend. When I speak of defense, the whole team needs to do it: the two wingers come down to help the fullbacks and the line of the defense is now tight and compact because we all work hard.

“Conti in the derby? No, not at all. He has been training with us and is working with great continuity. Next week he’ll do some tests. Before he gets back on the pitch with us he’ll play some matches with the Primavera. I hope to be able to send him to the field of the Primavera within 15 days. He needs to get some minutes into his legs before being back with us.

“Kalinić? I always protect my players. As long as my players show respect – not for me, but for the locker room, their teammates and the club – I will tear my heart out of my chest and let them play keepie-uppie with it. I will continue to give Nikola opportunities because he is strong, and I think he has shown it. I have to do everything I can to have him back. His miss against Lazio? I hoped we’d pass the round or otherwise I would’ve definitely lost him, but he strong and he is a true striker.

“There is a sense of belonging and I hope that San Siro will help me and help us, I hope the fans will help him: not only him but also André Silva [who has not scored in Serie A yet] and all the others who are not going through a great period. Less whistles and some more applause.

“[Super-agent Mino] Raiola said he wants Donnarumma to move to a ‘big club’ next season? The club has written history. The moment now is negative but Milan remain at the top of the world. When a player arrives to Milan then he’s in a big club because there is everything here.

“Bonucci said I resemble Antonio Conte in some respects? When I’ve won what Conte has and put together 300 Serie A games, then we can talk comparisons. Right now, we have a similar character, but that’s it. Being compared to Conte is an immense honor. I need to be credible with what I propose to the team. But I spent 14 years in that locker room and saw the biggest champions pass through.

“It’s true there was a solid club, as there is now, but the difference was made by the men in that room. My duty is to make it clear that respecting the rules and the jersey is the spirit to win. The secret, for years, was the identity and sense of belonging, every day we were at Milanello we were at home.”