Inter's Derby Challenge: No More Slow Starts Against Milan

Manuel Akanji has issued a warning, and it is aimed squarely inside his own dressing room.

On the eve of a Derby della Madonnina that could tilt the title race, the Inter defender has told his teammates there can be no repeat of the slow, careless openings that have become a dangerous habit. Not against Milan. Not with the stakes this high.

Inter flying, Milan wounded

Inter arrive at Saturday’s derby in a position of strength. Cristian Chivu’s side sit top of Serie A alongside Lazio, unbeaten in the 2026-27 campaign with 25 points from eight wins and a draw. They have set the early pace, they have the momentum, and they have the numbers to prove it.

Across the city, Milan are licking their wounds. A 4-2 defeat to Bologna brought their first league loss of the season and a jolt to Stefano Pioli’s plans. The table offers little comfort: if Inter win the derby, they will open up a 10-point gap on their rivals. In late October, that is not a gap, it is a chasm.

Milan’s title hopes would not be mathematically gone, but the damage would be brutal.

A flawless record with a clear flaw

For all the points and plaudits, Inter know their performances have not been spotless. They have developed a bad habit: falling behind and then clawing their way back. Thirteen of their points this season have come from losing positions. It speaks to character and depth. It also screams danger.

Akanji did not sugar-coat it.

"It's not easy to give an explanation. It's not that we start badly, but sometimes we make mistakes and concede goals," the Swiss international told Sky Sport Italia. "We can't afford to do that, especially against the big teams. Sometimes you might get away with it, especially if the opponents don't convert the chances they create. We know that we can't start like that against Milan, we can't give away easy goals. They will have to work hard to score."

The message is simple: the derby will not forgive the kind of lapses Inter have survived elsewhere.

History underlines his concern. Inter have not beaten Milan in their last seven meetings in all competitions since April 2024, a run that includes five defeats and two draws. For a club that measures itself against its neighbour as much as any opponent, that is an ugly streak.

‘The desire to win’ in a derby that bites

Asked what it will take to snap that run, Akanji stripped it down to basics.

"The desire to win. That's what counts in a derby. We have to show it from the first minute and not just bring a sense of hunger, but the desire to go and win. Mentality is what drives desire."

This is not a derby that allows passengers. Inter cannot lean on the table, on their unbeaten status, or on the notion that Milan are vulnerable after Bologna. They must impose themselves from kick-off, not from the 60th minute.

Last season’s meetings offered a clear tactical warning. "Last year, Milan showed us their low block and played intelligently. We can't give away easy chances. We all have to defend and make things difficult for them. We have to take advantage on transitions when we have the ball," Akanji said.

The pattern is easy to imagine: Milan sitting compact, waiting to spring; Inter circulating the ball, searching for gaps, knowing that one sloppy pass could gift their rivals exactly the game they want.

Title pressure and tired legs

The derby sits inside a wider grind. Inter are not just fighting Milan and Lazio. They are fighting the calendar.

"It's still early, but of course it would be great to win this game," Akanji admitted. "The teams close to us are picking up points and it will be difficult to stay up there. For us, the derby is one of the most important games of the season, we want to get the three points."

Then comes the other battle: the one with fatigue.

"It's not just about that, we have to think about the last few years as well. Before that, there was the Club World Cup and the Euros the summer before," he added. "Fortunately, next year, there will be a proper break. When you play as much as that, starting again straight away is difficult.

"You might be happy, maybe you had a good World Cup, maybe you need a rest, but there's no time. The body responds to the present, the mind less so. It's not easy. I'm 31 years old now, we have to think and play as a team. We want to finish well before the international break."

It is a rare, candid glimpse into the physical and mental strain on a modern defender. More games, more travel, more pressure. Less rest. Inter’s ability to manage that load while keeping their intensity will define more than just this weekend.

A derby that demands a fast start

On Saturday, the theory ends. Inter will walk out knowing exactly what this game can give them: a statement win, control of the city, and a heavy blow to a direct rival’s Scudetto ambitions.

They will also know what it can take away. Another slow start, another early concession, and all the talk of mentality and desire will be tested in the harshest possible arena.

Akanji has drawn the line. No easy goals. No early gifts. In a derby that has punished them for two and a half years, Inter are out of excuses.

Now they have to prove it from the first whistle.