Sneijder reveals Inter’s key midfielder vs. Milan and what Mourinho said before 2009 derby – breaking

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 29: Coach Jose Mourinho and Wesley Sneijder of Inter FC during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 29, 2009 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Wesley Sneijder admits he was surprised when José Mourinho started him against Milan in 2009, just a few hours after his move from Real Madrid and sees Piotr Zielinski as Inter’s ‘key man’ in 2025-26.

Former Inter star Sneijder previewed tonight’s Derby della Madonnina during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“First of all, this isn’t just a derby, it’s THE derby,” Sneijnder said.

“At San Siro, you can feel the weight of history. I’ve payed Real Madrid-Barcelona, which is a global clasico that involves different cities, and Galatasaray-Fenerbahce, which drives Istanbul crazy, but the fact that teams the size of Milan and Inter share the same stadium is always…wow! And this season the derby could even decide a Scudetto that is fully deserved. It’s not like two years ago when the Nerazzurri mathematically celebrated the title at Milan’s home, but if Cristian goes to +13 who could possibly think of catching him?”

Inter are the Serie A table leaders with a 10-point advantage over their city rivals who sit second and have only lost twice in Serie A this term.

“Milan are a clever team. They have the character of their coach,” Sneijder continued.

“They know how to sit back, wait for you and punish you. They have midfielders like Rabiot, but Inter are superior in possession. Calhanoglu is back now, but the key man this season is Zielinski. Last season, I kept asking myself ‘why doesn’t he play?’ Now, instead, the ball always goes through him.”

Milan legend Andiy Shevchenko, on the other hand, said the Rossoneri would reopen the title race if they beat the Nerazzurri tonight.

Sneijder is a proper Inter legend as he was part of the team that won the treble under Mourinho in 2009-10. When the Dutchman arrived at San Siro, he was immediately started in a derby against Milan.

“I had barely stepped off the plane at the end of Augst 2009, when José said to me: ‘You’ll be playing against Milan.’ How many others would have done that? It ended 4-0 for us. It felt like I had known Milito and Eto’o my whole life,” Sneijder said.

“After the match, I realised Mourinho was serious when he said the only thing he was missing to win everything was a No.10. He hadn’t just said it to convince me. He simply saw the future.”

Inter coach Chivu was also part of that legendary Inter team and Sneijder sees a similarity between his former teammate and his ex-coach Mourinho.

“Comparisons like that don’t make sense and are dangerous. But like José, Cristian says wht he thinks without needing to please everyone and he goe straight down his own path,” he said.

“Chivu has to defend Inter from everything and everyone. Look at the Bastoni case, so many pointless controversies. Sooner or later, people will get tired of booing; but what I like the most is the player’s reaction. The criticism just slides off him. That’s how it should be done.”