Carlo Ancelotti says Stefano Pioli and Paolo Maldini have done an exceptional job and reveals he used to support Inter when he was a child.
“Milan are doing well. Pioli and Maldini have done an exceptional job in the last six months,” the former Milan coach told La Gazzetta dello Sport on the eve of the Milan derby.
“I never had doubts about Maldini’s qualities as a football director. When you are a good person, you can’t get it wrong. Experience is an important requirement, but you only gain it on the front line.
Carlo Ancelotti says Stefano Pioli and Paolo Maldini have done an exceptional job and reveals he used to support Inter when he was a child.
“Milan are doing well. Pioli and Maldini have done an exceptional job in the last six months,” the former Milan coach told La Gazzetta dello Sport on the eve of the Milan derby.
“I never had doubts about Maldini’s qualities as a football director. When you are a good person, you can’t get it wrong. Experience is an important requirement, but you only gain it on the front line.
“Inter have strengthened the team the summer. They can break the hegemony of Juventus. Overall, I think the most uncertain A season of the last decade.
“[Antonio] Conte is an excellent professional. Sometimes we talk on the phone, he has a fierce desire to improve and expand his football culture. It is those like him who make teams win.”
“Stefano [Pioli] is a valuable person, as a man and as a coach. His cv speaks for itself: it has achieved excellent results in every team he’s coached."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to action after recovering from Covid while Inter have six players who are currently positive.
“Ibra is Ibra. When you find a footballer like him, you hit the jackpot. Motivation and pride have always been his strength, Ibra is an incredible professional.”
On the other side of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku will be the biggest threat for the Rossoneri.
“Here at Everton he left a very good memory. Everyone speaks very well of Lukaku. I don’t know him, but from he seems a player of personality and character. He is a modern center-forward: he scores goals and does a huge work for the team.”
The Toffees' coach reveals he used to support Inter when he was a child.
“As a child, I was an Interista because I was enchanted by the team of Helenio Herrera. They gave me a shirt of Sandro Mazzola, in those days these things were a rarity. Milan, however, is the club that has marked my life: first as a player and then as a coach.”
In the end he shares his thoughts on Pirlo's appointment as the head coach of Juventus.
“When I hear that he is still immature to be the Juventus coach I reply it takes knowledge of the subject and experience to be a coach and Pirlo has plenty of competence.”