Paolo Maldini has hit out at a Milan he sees as ‘destroyed’: “Adriano Galliani feels all powerful. There is no project.”
The Rossoneri are enduring a difficult campaign and have seen a change in Coach fail to arrest the decline in results.
Paolo Maldini has hit out at a Milan he sees as ‘destroyed’: “Adriano Galliani feels all powerful. There is no project.”
The Rossoneri are enduring a difficult campaign and have seen a change in Coach fail to arrest the decline in results.
Former full-back Maldini, who in 24 seasons with the club won a total of 26 major honours, has reflected on his dismay in seeing the club struggle.
The weekend defeat at home to Parma saw fans protest and had the retired full-back watching on.
“Yes I watched the game, as well as the match with Atletico and nearly all of those of the past two years,” began Maldini to the Gazzetta dello Sport today.
“Inside me there is a mixture of anger and disappointment, not so much for the results, because they are the 10th or 11th to have arrived, but because the impression is that they have thrown away what was built with hard work over the previous 10 years.
“For me this is very bad. Milan have had the good fortune of having many winning cycles with similar synergies of men, I know how much work there was behind so many triumphs, what it took to build such a beautiful story. To see it all destroyed drives me crazy.”
The 45-year-old was asked how he believes the club has been destroyed.
“It stems from the exit of many players with a winning mentality. I believe that the successes first depend on the men.
“Milan have had so many pass through over the last 25 years, but how many of those work at the club? None. Milan’s history is Filippo Galli, head of the youth sector.
“And then there is Tassotti, who I believe could leave at the end of the season. If so it would be another crazy move. We will lose another piece of history. I hope that it is not true.
“At Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the past greats work at the club. This is the first big problem. Juve has understood and has restructured using a solid group of Italians who know how to achieve success.
“Mine is not a personal discourse. Some might think that I spit in the plate where I ate, but it is not so. I suffer in seeing Milan under these conditions. I have two children who play in the youth sector, one is now on loan at Brescia. I feel a part of the club.”
Maldini was asked of the fans’ protests against action in the transfer market.
“The club must make clear that it has other goals – it cannot compete with Juve and it is not among the top 10 in Europe.
“There is no project, they look at today and not tomorrow. You have to buy players functional to the game, do not sign only on a free. You may get it right sometimes, but not always. And then if you hand out a colossal contract, it serves no purpose. But the problem is structural.
“Should Galliani stay or go? It is not for me to say. I think that when you feel all powerful, it is not clear that the results were obtained thanks to others. To win, we want ideas, design, passion. At Milan there remains only passion. It is not enough.
“Can Barbara Berlusconi lead Milan? I do not know. It depends on those around her. I do not think she is an expert on football and footballers.”
Maldini has been linked with a return to the Giuseppe Meazza in a technical position, and was quizzed on that.
“I had two interviews with Barbara, after the division of responsibilities I have been designated as the successor to Galliani in the technical area, but I have not heard from anyone.
“She wanted me to convey everything we have talked about so far, I was ready for a role in the sporting area, but there has been no follow up.”
Maldini was asked if Coach Clarence Seedorf, with his Milan past, was in the right place to help the club.
“It is logical that he does not have experience, he has great courage and personality, but even Guardiola could not do anything. Do not blame Clarence. There is a lack of clarity in objectives.
“Maybe at the end of the season there could be a more conservative Coach, then a good start to next year. So there is a risk he will get burned.
“Allegri’s dismissal? The situation in the table was bad, but I never believed another Coach could do better or make a change during the season.
“Inzaghi for the future? He has spent two years with the youth academy and this counts. But a rookie Coach must be supported by a very strong structure and not get burned. Sacchi and Capello at the start could rely on great champions.”