Milan legend Kaka was impressed with Stefano Pioli’s work at the club and spoke highly about Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The 21-year-old Georgian winger has been a vital part of the success of Luciano Spalletti’s squad this season, scoring eight goals and providing 10 assists in 17 appearances in Serie A and the Champions League. His work has helped Napoli go eight points clear of second place Milan in the league table, setting up an exciting Scudetto race in the second half of the season.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Kaka first discussed his expectations for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
“Yes, everything will have an impact, the time of the season, the warm but not too hot temperature, the lack of travel and therefore the possibility of having the recovery process start immediately after the match. The big champions will be at the top.”
The former Milan star commented on the lack of a preparation camp for teams.
“Indeed it is a novelty, but the players already know what the coaches want, the qualifiers were also useful for this. I expect vertical football and lots of goals, as happens in the Champions League. The World Cup usually follows the trend and indicates in which direction it is going.”
He gave his thoughts on Kvaratskhelia’s work with Napoli and his absence from the World Cup.
“He is very good, a nice surprise. Too bad he and Haaland can’t make the World Cup. Fantasy always surprises, the player who finds solutions that others don’t see makes the difference.”
Kaka discussed Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
“Your exclusion from the World Cup hurts me too. But we must be optimistic, also because Italy won the European Championship.
“If you add Brazil and Argentina, it’s a small World Cup. Perhaps the 2018 elimination was a little underestimated, but I see that now there are many interesting youngsters.”
He spoke about how it feels to see Milan in the knock-out stages of the Champions League again.
“It’s beautiful. I would like to come to Italy for the challenge with Tottenham. Milan have taken the right direction, I like the long-term work set up by the club.”
Finally, Kaka discussed the work of his former teammate Paolo Maldini as a director at the club.
“Knowing Paolo, I knew he would do well no matter what. He is a very intelligent, competent and correct man. It’s a good thing he decided to be a Milan director.
“We speak every now and then. I studied, I did three courses in sports management, one in sports business and one as a coach. And maybe I’ll be a sports director.”