Paolo Maldini looks ahead to tonight’s Milan–Napoli showdown by praising Vincenzo Montella and noting Maurizio Sarri “reminds me of Arrigo Sacchi.”
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Sarri really reminds me of Sacchi,” Milan legend Maldini told Top Calcio 24.
Paolo Maldini looks ahead to tonight’s Milan-Napoli showdown by praising Vincenzo Montella and noting Maurizio Sarri “reminds me of Arrigo Sacchi.”
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Sarri really reminds me of Sacchi,” Milan legend Maldini told Top Calcio 24.
“The way the Rossoneri play is different to Napoli, but is still entertaining and full of young talent. Montella deserves a lot of credit, as he’s done a super job.
“Considering how well they did in the first half of the season, Milan have to target third place, but the truth is their real objective remains Europa League qualification. Juventus, Napoli and Roma are stronger teams.”
In the 1980s Milan-Napoli was a Scudetto showdown with the likes of Maldini facing off against Diego Armando Maradona.
“We made an extraordinary comeback and were playing against the champions of Italy, made of world class players like Maradona, Antonio Careca and Bruno Giordano. We were on the right track to opening up a winning era both in Italy and in Europe. In those years, the games against Napoli were the most important of the season.”
Maldini spent his entire career at Milan, from the youth academy through to wearing the captain’s armband at his farewell.
“I hope Gianluigi Donnarumma can have a career like mine and I think he hopes so too. He’ll have to be lucky, because I was fortunate enough to make my debut in a side where there was space for young players.
“For the future of Italian defenders, I think Daniele Rugani, Mattia Caldara and Alessio Romagnoli are the ones we should be focusing on. Unfortunately there’s a shortage of great centre-backs in Europe, not just in Italy.”