Milan President Silvio Berlusconi predicts a “very difficult match” at Napoli and hopes Mario Balotelli “can finally be decisive”.
The Rossoneri face Maurizio Sarri’s side at San Paolo tonight, with the Vesuviani looking to return to the top of Serie A after Juventus drew on Friday.
“It will be a very difficult match for Milan,” Berlusconi acknowledged on Radio Onda Libera.
Milan President Silvio Berlusconi predicts a “very difficult match” at Napoli and hopes Mario Balotelli “can finally be decisive”.
The Rossoneri face Maurizio Sarri’s side at San Paolo tonight, with the Vesuviani looking to return to the top of Serie A after Juventus drew on Friday.
“It will be a very difficult match for Milan,” Berlusconi acknowledged on Radio Onda Libera.
“I was at lunch with the team at Milanello yesterday, and I found them particularly motivated. Napoli have motivation, they’re coming off the back of two defeats where they played well and weren’t lucky.
“They’ll be playing in front of the extraordinary San Paolo crowd, who will push them.
“Can Milan make the Champions League? Only if we win from here until the end. We have big players coming back into the squad, like [Jeremy] Menez who was our best player last year, Balotelli, in the hope he can finally be decisive and [Kevin-Prince] Boateng.”
Berlusconi was then asked who he is tipping in the race for the Scudetto.
“Juve, they’re very balanced, they have a great defence and they’re consistent in their results.”
The Rossoneri patron has been Prime Minister of Italy on three occasions, so is his first love politics or football?
“Football and politics are two completely different things,” Berlusconi replied.
“One is a matter of the heart, and love for my family, my father, my city of Milan, Milan and the fans.
“The other is born of a sense of responsibility to my country, that I saved from the communist ideology in 1994 – it made me afraid and it still scares me.
“My 30 years at Milan? They’re an important part of my life and my history. I’m not always able to be there, but remember when I said we’d be first in Italy, then Europe and then the world? That’s what happened.
“My best memory? That night in Barcelona with the first European Cup, won on the pitch by the players and at the stadium by the Rossoneri fans.
“I can still see that party at the end when I close my eyes.”