Italy World Cup winner predicts tactical key in Milan vs Juventus

Italy World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta believes wingers and full-backs will make the difference in the upcoming match between Milan and Juventus but tells Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao to get inspiration from three Serie A legends.

Milan and Juventus meet at San Siro this coming Saturday with kick-off time at 18:00 CET.

Zambrotta, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner and a former defender for both clubs, previewed the game in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The Rossoneri must give a bit more now,” he said.

“Despite not being the favourite, they already won the derby but dropped points against Napoli, Parma and Cagliari. Those are points that a team with a particular ambition can’t leave on their way.

“It will be a great game on the wings, it’s an intriguing perspective. Theo and Leao will give unpredictability on the left chain, and the same is true of Pulisic and Conceiçao, who are in a good moment, like Cambiaso,” continued the ex-defender.

“Hopefully, it will be like Inter-Juve. It depends on how much the teams will be exposed.

“Fonseca is doing a good job. He studied the game against Real Madrid well. He had to deal with tricky situations like those of Leao and Theo,” added Zambrotta.

“Juventus’ managerial change was even more evident because Motta is a young coach who joined a different context for the first time. He has no fear of experimenting and launching young players. It was not easy, but he’s done a great job so far. It’s not a surprise. I visited him in Bologna and found a very intelligent person with a great personality.”

Milan stars Theo and Leao have had highs and lows this season and Zambrotta expects more from them.

“You can’t make the difference sporadically,” insisted the ex-Rossoneri star.

“They must take inspiration from players like Del Piero, Pirlo and Seedorf, who were always up to the task.”

Milan have 18 points in the Serie A table, eight fewer than table leaders Napoli, but Paulo Fonseca’s men have a game in hand,

“A team that fights for the title must be as consistent as possible and be able to win dirty games too,” noted Zambrotta.

“I see collective responsibility, especially in defence.”

However, the ex-full-back believes the Diavoli can still fight for the title.

“Absolutely. The top six teams are not so far, and Milan have a game in hand.”

Juventus and Milan will play in the Champions League Round Five next week. Zambrotta didn’t win the trophy in his career and lost the 2003 Final with the Bianconeri against Milan. 

That game was played at Manchester’s Old Trafford, while this season’s Final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

It’s already possible to buy UCL Final Tickets with the hope of seeing a Serie A club in Munich.

“Given the teams’ value, going beyond the league phase is the minimum target [for Milan and Juventus],” said Zambrotta.

“Hopefully, among the top eight, why not?”