D. Lopez: “Derby games are any footballer’s dream, Miha is charismatic, Donna can make Milan history”

Diego Lopez spoke ahead of the derby against Inter tomorrow as he believes that Serie A will be more competitive.

After beating Inter in two pre-season friendlies, the Rossoneri face the Nerazzurri tomorrow for a match that matters as Inter host Milan at Stadio San Siro at 20:45 CET for the third matchday.

Diego Lopez will definitely start in goal and will try to have a good match with his typical tranquility. “I live a normal life, like I always have. When I arrived to Milan no one recognized me, now some fans stop me but in only makes me feel more pleasure,” Lopez told il Corriere dello Sport and il CorSera.

“The derby? These games are any footballer’s dream, even though San Siro is prettier when it’s coloured in red and black. There’re thousands for whom this derby means a lot and we want to defend this feeling.

“Inter are favorites? I’m not worried about that. All I care about is what we are going to do tomorrow after 20:45. We’ve worked hard and well but we didn’t see it in the matches.

“If the main problem is psychological? The problem is to remove the pressure. It’s easier for me, I’m 33 years old and I have experience. But we must only do what we know.

“If I regret leaving Real Madrid for Milan? My only dream is returning to the Champions League and winning the Scudetto with Milan. Last year was terrible and we didn’t do well in these first two games, but we have a great drive to get going again, starting tomorrow night.

“I’m here to do my part and help Milan return to greatness The fact that last year I was often the best on the pitch and it wasn’t a good sign? Now we have to show that we are a different group.

“The defense? We work in a different way. If the first defenders are the attackers then also in the back we feel more confident. I think that so far we haven’t done badly. In Florence we conceded two goals, in a dead-ball and we were in 10. Against Empoli we only suffered one attack.

“We have to improve our possession and create more opportunities. I seemed a bit impatient when De Jong continued to pass the ball back against Empoli? It’s clear that we have to play forward like we did in the summer. We know what we’re been missing because the coach is a very intelligent person.

“An adjective to describe Mihajlovic? Charismatic. A coach must have charisma in order to influence the players. The harsh criticism from the coach? We know that he says what’s on his mind. We see it as a normal thing – done so we can improve. He says what he thinks to every single player, and it’s effective.

“Mihajlovic always manages to get his point across to us players. He is just as charismatic as the great coaches – the coaches that are making history in football. I’m referring to the coaches that I know – Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Carlo Ancelotti (who Milan tried to sign before getting Mihajlovic).

“If it will be a more balanced Serie A? I think so. With the exit of three important players Juventus have lost something. Inter have 6 points despite not being brilliant, Roma have proven to be strong & I like Fiorentina. We can all do well. Who I fear at Inter? It’s in attack where they have the major players.

“Bacca and Luiz Adriano? They are two excellent strikers, but we need to provide them with more service, so they can score more goals. If my successor will be Donnarumma? He is Milan’s future, and we are all trying to give him advice, so he can improve. He has an incredible talent.

“Donnarumma is young but seems 10 years older. He can make Milan history.” Diego Lopez will start tomorrow in defense, most likely with Abate, De Sciglio, Romagnoli and Zapata right in front of him.