Sacchi responds after Milan 1-1 Inter: Cup has different meaning for both sides – Football Italia – April 3 latest

Arrigo Sacchi believes that everything has been left to play for in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Milan and Inter after the 1-1 draw between the two sides in San Siro on Wednesday night, which he feels was the ‘correct’ result on the night. 

A special edition of the Derby della Madonnina took place on Wednesday night: The fourth so far in 2025-26. Tammy Abraham opened the scoring two minutes into the second half, which was cancelled out by a Hakan Calhanoglu rocket midway through the second period. 

The two teams will meet again for the return leg, also in San Siro, on April 23. 

How Sacchir enacted to Milan 1-1 Inter

Writing in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column, Sacchi believes that the result, on the whole, was “correct”, particularly given the even nature of the first-half. He feels that Milan responded to Inter’s attempts “blow for blow” and praises both teams for their tactical discipline: Milan in a 4-2-3-1 that looked like a 4-4-2 in defensive phases, Inter in Inzaghi’s preferred 3-5-2 shape. 

Sacchi also feels that both teams deserve praise for their work out of possession, and feels that both coaches paid a lot of attention to detail, even though the pressing was not quite as intense as he typically enjoys. 

Sacchi says that he predicted a draw between the two sides before kick-off, and expects the second leg to still be an open affair as he thinks the Derby della Madonnina is usually a one-off affair, where previous form does not necessarily matter. 

Both teams need to progress for varying reasons: Milan to ‘rescue’ their season and secure at least some form of European competition for 2025-26, Inter to keep their dream of an historic treble alive.