MILAN- Christian Abbiati spoke exclusively to the Milan Channel on Thursday afternoon. This is what he had to say, starting with this Sunday’s derby match with Inter:
“It will be a great match, not easy, but a great match. We’ve felt the pressure a bit more this week. Last week we didn’t have a full squad. Experiencing the derby as a coach isn’t the same as a player. For Inzaghi it’s his first time as a coach and I hope it brings him luck. The best goal in the derby? In my opinion Shevchenko’s in the second leg of the Champions League. The team are up for it and want to repeat the performance against Sampdoria where despite drawing, we had an excellent match. We’re on the right road, there’s definitely a long way to go, but the coach is helping the side develop in the right way. The group is calm and focused on the job that we’re doing. Emotions will be sky high when we arrive at the stadium on Sunday and we will show that Milan are ready. The forwards are fundamental. I don’t know who will take to the pitch. Perhaps Stephan, who was able to end his goal drought against Sampdoria and he could break the deadlock during the match. Should Diego score then that would be fine as well!”
Abbiati also had the chance to speak about the past and a golden period under Carlo Ancelotti: “Those were unforgettable years with Ancelotti, it’s difficult to have as strong a team as that again, but coach Inzaghi is really good in making everyone feel a part of the group. I have a good relationship with the coach, it’s hard now to have the same relationship as when we were players, as he now has a different role and I behave around him as a player would with a coach.”
The shot-stopper analysed his time with the Italian national side as well as praising the Milan fans for their brilliant support: “I had an excellent relationship with the national side, I was surrounded by brilliant goalkeepers like Toldo, Peruzzi and Buffon and so I preferred to think more about Milan and stay with the squad and train. I’ve got a brilliant relationship with the fans, they’ve always been close to me, even in the tough moments. They’re great supporters, which was shown last year in those first difficult 6 months and they showed they really care about this team. We tried to repay them in part in the second half of the season.”
