Arrigo Sacchi says fans must have patience at Milan, as he backs Clarence Seedorf and Adriano Galliani amid crisis.
Arrigo Sacchi says fans must have patience at Milan, as he backs Clarence Seedorf and Adriano Galliani amid crisis.
The Rossoneri are under increasing scrutiny from their support as a series of poor results continued with a 4-2 home defeat to Parma on Sunday afternoon.
Fans protested before and during the game, whilst the likes of Ricky Kaka, Mario Balotelli and Seedorf met with Ultras post-match.
For the club’s former Coach, who oversaw one Serie A title and two European Cup wins in the late 1980s, focus should be on the football, not on the fans.
“Because of 25 years of success, is it right that the fans challenge the club and threaten the team? It is a serious matter,” Sacchi has reflected on Radio Anch’Io Sport today.
“There is a lack of appreciation, a lack of respect towards the players. The violence has once again prevailed and in that environment it is difficult to grow. I would like greater support.
“You cannot always be on top, there are times when you go wrong and others are better than you, you must know how to accept that. In our football we lack civilisation.
“The choice of the right people is key, then return to a focused style of play and go and find the most suitable interpreters. Functionality first, then talent.
“In Italy, we think everything is born at the feet of the players, in fact everything comes from the mind. When I arrived at Milan, Van Basten, Gullit and Baresi had not won the Ballon d’Or, so you need a club with clear ideas. Milan must first not only win, but also persuade.”
Sacchi believes that the right people includes Clarence Seedorf, Adriano Galliani and Mario Balotelli.
“Arriving and managing players who you have not chosen is difficult. For the first time in a long time, the club, apart from anything else, have proven not to be cohesive in the past – it is broken at the top, let alone at the base.
“Fans must have patience – Galliani is one of the greatest directors, Berlusconi is engaged in politics and is less present, but Galliani is an added value to this club.
“There are those with a lot more money, so they serve to have more options. Milanello can be a workshop of champions – Real Madrid and Barcelona invest €40m-€50m per year on this issue.
“Balotelli? He is definitely a talent, but that does not mean that is enough. He has to find a positive environment, a game that will help him and a team that suits his qualities.
“Undoubtedly he does not seem very helpful. He has yet to mature as a person. At a technical level he has extraordinary talent – I was impressed when I saw him at Inter, but it is not enough.
“The individual cannot solve a complex problem, which in the case of Milan is the play.”