Skip to content

Fallen giants: Remembering a time when the Milan derby actually mattered

Reuters

The good old days. Serie A remembers them fondly.

Gone are the days of Champions League titles and prosperity, when stadiums were packed to the brim, everyone in attendance eager to be dazzled by transcendent superstars like Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini and Diego Maradona. They were days of unrivaled entertainment and success, both befitting a league rife with history.

AC Milan and perennial rivals Inter, bound to one another by the kind of ferocity that can only be fostered between city rivals, were – along with Juventus – at the forefront of that golden period.

The celebrations were plentiful as Paolo Maldini and Javier Zanetti, synonymous with the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri, hoisted trophies over their respective heads. People cheered. People watched. The world cared when Milan's two teams, two of the biggest and best on the planet, locked horns.

Inter president Erick Thohir still does. He's in the minority.

"The city of Milan stands still for this wonderful match and the eyes of the world are upon us," Thohir, ever the optimist, wrote in Sunday's match programme prior to a dour 0-0 draw at the San Siro.

"Millions of fans from all four corners of the globe will enjoy one of the most exciting games in world football: the derby.

"It's my fourth derby as Inter President. The first time I saw Inter v AC Milan at the San Siro, it took my breath away."

The same was true on Sunday - but it was more of a slow, painful strangulation that took our breath away. The kind that kills your will to enjoy football after watching 90 minutes of putrid play between two teams who are relevant in name only.

Andrea Ranocchia, whose lone redeeming quality is that he fulfills the long-established tradition of Inter having a token Italian in the starting lineup, served as captain on Sunday evening. His opposite number, Ignazio Abate, has been forced to ride pine in favor of Daniele Bonera at various points this season. You - yes you, reading this right now - are better than Daniele Bonera.

At least Sulley Muntari wasn’t on hand to blight the contest, as he’s done so many times before, for both teams. No problem; others stepped up in his stead. 

The halcyon days of the Derby della Madonnina featured a collection of the world’s most thrilling stars. Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Marco van Basten draped in red, saluted by the supporters in the southern stands. Lothar Matthaus, Ronaldo and Christian Vieri stood tall in blue, their names emanating from the fans situated in the northern section of Italy’s most imposing stadium.

Marco van Ginkel. Gary Medel. Luca Antonelli. The skeleton of Nemanja Vidic. These are the names on show now. These are the men, discarded by other clubs, trying to help wrestle their respective Milanese side out of mid-table obscurity.

(Courtesy: Reuters)

Not surprisingly, it's not working. The goalless draw left Milan sitting ninth in the Serie A table on 43 points - one point, and one place, ahead of Inter.

What is the Milan derby, then? It's Stoke City against West Ham. It's Celta Vigo versus Espanyol. It's two clubs mired in mediocrity.

"Pippo has his ideas and with time he will perfect them. He has often relied on solid, reliable players, but the Rossoneri fans were used to the Dutch players and Kaka – it’s not easy for them to swallow," former Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni said of the situation facing the under-fire Milan boss. "I think that the club must trust him, but you can’t expect Inzaghi to make fine wine out of turnips."

At the very least, patrons in the beautiful Italian city are indeed swallowing it – albeit some more begrudgingly than others. Some 74,000 flocked to the San Siro, and their brilliant tifos were the most compelling thing about a match that featured two disallowed goals and very little more.

Outside the stadium, the world yawned. It too yearned for the past.

Like they did with Serie A, people once cared about the Milan derby. Today, it’s just another match between two mid-table teams, trying – and failing – to recapture the good old days.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox