Paolo Maldini insists Milan will meet with Franck Kessie’s agent ‘yet again’ to discuss his contract, but is confident the midfielder will be ‘professional’ to the end, just like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Champions League clash kicks off at San Siro at 17.45 GMT.
“The Champions League is the home of Milan, it is our history. Obviously, stories change, but you can return and we hope that’s what will happen for us,” Maldini told Amazon Prime Italia.
“We are in a difficult group, so would need a better ranking in future to have a better chance of qualification. We did well against Liverpool, very well with Atletico Madrid and very badly against Porto.
“We don’t deserve to have zero points, but we are a young team and this will help us to mature. We’ve got to keep the tempo high for 90 minutes, because these are teams who run hard and have quality.
“Milan always try to press high and attack, then there are games like against Liverpool where you get pushed back by the sheer infernal tempo of the other team. However, they too have weaknesses and we proved that.
“We know full well that the champions in a squad make the difference, but the idea of team spirit and motivation also makes a mark when there’s unity between coach, players and directors. That is our strength.”
Inevitably, Maldini was asked about the on-going negotiations to extend Kessie’s contract, as his deal is due to expire in June 2022.
“We’ve been talking about it for a long time, we’ll have the opportunity to meet yet again with his agent and decide in relaxed fashion.
“However, it is not the priority right now, we have two very important games. We understand there’s a matter of money and transfers, but let’s also not forget that if we are in the Champions League, it is also thanks to the professionalism of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu, who did their duty to the end.”