Andrea Stramaccioni, former Inter Milan coach, analyzed the Coppa Italia derby, stating that Sergio Conceicao showed great merit by insisting on the 3-4-3 system and that Inzaghi’s season is extremely challenging.

It’s still not the time for final judgment, as AC Milan hasn’t won the Coppa Italia yet and must play the final, while Inter is under pressure competing neck-and-neck with Napoli for the Serie A title and the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

But yesterday’s 3-0 defeat in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg showed one thing: AC Milan has become the nightmare of the Italian champions. Inzaghi and his team dreamed of a treble, but now they are licking their wounds. Stramaccioni, now a technical analyst for DAZN, says: “But the future is still unwritten for both teams.”

What was the key to Milan’s success? “Conceicao’s insistence on the new 3-4-3 system, Jovic’s excellent coordination with this system, and the regained defensive solidity strengthened by the tactical change.”

How can a 20-point gap in the table be reduced to zero in all derbies this season? “It’s clear, AC Milan has individual and team characteristics that trouble Inter. This season’s derbies were different, but yesterday Milan won decisively and deservedly.”

In 5 derbies, Milan only trailed in Riyadh. Does Inter make mistakes at the start of matches? “Not at all. Inter played very well in the first 35 minutes and created at least 3 goal-scoring opportunities. But then Jovic’s goal came.”

Did you expect Jovic to be so decisive? “I don’t know if Conceicao, who was Jovic’s coach at Vitoria Guimaraes when he was 19, was a fan of his back then, but one thing is certain: I have great respect for Conceicao for trusting Jovic despite the expensive signing of Chimy Ávila. If I were in AC Milan’s place, I would keep Jovic and not let him go for free.”

Reijnders has 15 goals this season, 2 against Inter: How far can he go? “He’s fantastic, a modern midfielder with rare qualities. He dribbles in midfield and has lightning-fast changes of pace. Plus, he’s improved a lot in scoring. Yesterday, with his chest strike, he showed how much passion he has for AC Milan. He has everything; Milan must hold onto him tightly.”

Would winning another trophy redefine Conceicao’s season after the Super Cup? “I’ve been saying for a long time: be careful, Sergio has only been here for a few months, but he’s being judged as if he’s been at AC Milan for years. He inherited a complicated situation. Now he’s found his system and trusted players. Judgments in football change quickly; his work must be evaluated at the end of the season.”

Did Inzaghi make a mistake with his rotation system? “Simone is working in an extremely challenging season. Inter started strongly yesterday but dropped off in the second half. Opponents now predict that Inter may naturally lose points in the final minutes.”

Yesterday’s defeat came after Bologna. Is the pressure of a trophy-less season greater, or is the motivation to bounce back after these two defeats? “In Bologna, a 92nd-minute incident was decisive, but yesterday was a bad defeat. The entire Inter must only think about the pitch. The future is still unwritten. They have the strength to compete for the Serie A and Champions League titles, but they must stay mentally charged.”

Taremi disappointed again, didn’t he? “Yes, he never managed to show his quality. There’s not much to say; his performance didn’t meet expectations.”

Can we use this derby to gauge Inter’s condition against Roma and Barcelona? “I don’t remember Inter being used to losing two big games in a row. Now more than ever, Inter must prove its worth. Sunday’s match against Roma will be truly crucial.”