Importance of 'The Big Mo' and other AC Milan v Inter Milan talking points

The Big Mo

How times have changed in Italy’s second city.

When Icardi rolled away in celebration at the death after Switzerland left-back Ricardo Rodriguez was harshly adjudged to have fouled Danilo D’Ambrosio, Luciano Spalletti’s hosts – for the evening in the shared stadium – were right on the coat-tails of leaders Napoli and appeared poised for a first title push since 2010/11.

In contrast, Milan’s high-profile summer refit was imploding upon the reality of three-successive top-flight losses and a gap of seven points to the hallowed Champions League-places required to pay for it.

Fast forward to the present and the momentum is the Rossoneri’s. Inspired by November’s hiring of pugilist ex-player Gennaro Gattuso as head coach, they are now unbeaten in 12 matches and have kept six clean sheets in a row for the first time since December 2003.

The gap to fourth-place remains the same – seven points. Yet descending Inter now sit there and they’ve won just two of their 11 Serie A-outings.

A real test of Milan’s upsurge awaits. On current form, they should pass it.

Super Mauro’s return

If Inter are in need of a fillip, the return to the XI of their free-scoring skipper Icardi fits the bill perfectly.

The man with 18 goals in 22 league run-outs this term has not started since January 28’s 1-1 stalemate with SPAL. Few other figures are likely to deliver a more exacting examination of the blossoming opposition centre-back partnership being enjoyed by Leonardo Bonucci and Alessio Romagnoli (right).

He was also the difference between the sides four months ago, putting in a display to rival the cherished names who lit up this fixture throughout the years – such as Giuseppe Meazza, Christian Vieri and Ronaldo. Replacement Eder didn’t cut it.

Icardi isn’t the solution to all Inter’s ills – his last four Serie A-starts delivered four draining draws. Instead, his presence should lift a squad who required set-piece headers to see off Serie B-bound Benevento last weekend.

His team-mates need him, Spalletti needs him and Inter’s supporters need him to secure a big result to prevent their season unraveling.

Gattuso has bark and bite

When Milan raided their Primavera to bring in Gattuso as Vincenzo Montella’s replacement, an injection of characteristic ‘grinta’ – grit and determination – was expected and little else.

Genuine affection was plentiful after 468 appearances and 10 major trophies as a snarling defensive midfielder – nicknamed ‘Ringhio’ (the growl) – from 1999-2012.

But a chaotic managerial resume – featuring stumbles at Sion, Palermo, OFI Crete and Pisa – strongly suggested another humiliation during a pained campaign which had promised much after a £210 million (Dh1.1 billion) pre-season spend. He was grossly underestimated.

A return to last season’s efficacious 4-3-3 formation has awoken a sleeping giant. Genuine excitement surrounds the club once again, with electric Spain attacking midfielder Suso reinvigorated and centre-back Bonucci no longer a laughing stock in the wake of his early stumbles which followed a remarkable switch from Juventus.

Gattuso’s impact has echoes of Diego Simeone’s at Atletico Madrid.  The spotless 2-0 execution job last week at Roma was his vision and passion distilled on the pitch

Shamefully for an outfit of Milan’s history, they last competed in the Champions League four years ago. But if results go their way this weekend, the top four will be tantalisingly close.

Gattuso’s already beaten Inter in the Coppa Italia and belief abounds he can repeat the trick in Serie A.