Cambiasso alert to Allegri ´mind games´

Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has accused AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri of playing mind games ahead of Sunday’s derby.

Allegri believes that victory for his side will end the Nerazzurri’s hopes of winning this season’s Scudetto, with Claudio Ranieri’s men currently eight points off their bitter rivals and league leaders.

Cambiasso resisted the opportunity to get dragged into a war of words ahead of the showdown at San Siro.

“Allegri reckons we will be out of the title race if we lose? Everyone tries to play their own mind games,” the Argentine told Studio Sport.

“Maybe he said that hoping we’ll go there and attack them full-on, leaving ourselves exposed; maybe that’s what his game is and what he wants.”

“We hope Inter will win it but we’ll only find out on the pitch.”

Cambiasso admitted that his focus is on trying to avoid getting caught up in all of the hype surrounding one of the biggest rivalries in world football.

“The derby is always different from any other game, both for us and for them,” the former Real Madrid man said.

“But, at the end of the day, you prepare for it in the same way as you do all the others.”

Milan go into the derby joint top of Serie A with Juventus, while Inter, who have won their last five games, sit fifth.