Serie A: Inter can't afford slow start in derby against AC Milan - Akanji

Manuel Akanji has warned Inter Milan that they cannot afford a sluggish start to their upcoming Derby della Madonnina match against AC Milan. The two teams are set to face off on Saturday, with Milan having just suffered a 4-2 home loss to Bologna, their first defeat of the season. Inter, on the other hand, remains atop the league table thanks to their impressive unbeaten start to the campaign.

Milan, however, has struggled to get off to a good beginning in most of their matches this season, conceding goals in 13 of them. Akanji, speaking to Sky Sport Italia, said it's challenging to pinpoint the exact reason for Inter's recent struggles, but emphasized that they simply cannot afford to repeat that trend against a formidable opponent like Milan.

"It's not easy to give an explanation. It's not that we start badly, but sometimes we make mistakes and concede goals. We can't afford to do that, especially against the big teams," Akanji stated. With seven meetings in the past, Inter has yet to secure a victory over Milan, losing five and drawing two.