Christian Panucci admits becoming Roma Coach one day “would be a dream”, and praises Gennaro Gattuso’s Milan.
The former defender played for both sides during his playing career, and is currently in charge of the Albanian national team.
With Gattuso and Eusebio Di Francesco’s sides to face off tomorrow, Gazzetta dello Sport asked Panucci if he’d like to coach either club one day.
“Going back to where you played is beautiful,” the former Italian international replied.
Christian Panucci admits becoming Roma Coach one day “would be a dream”, and praises Gennaro Gattuso’s Milan.
The former defender played for both sides during his playing career, and is currently in charge of the Albanian national team.
With Gattuso and Eusebio Di Francesco’s sides to face off tomorrow, Gazzetta dello Sport asked Panucci if he’d like to coach either club one day.
“Going back to where you played is beautiful,” the former Italian international replied.
“Roma in particular would be a dream for the emption experienced. I wish Di Francesco to stay for many years, but I hope that sooner or later life and destiny take me there.”
One man who has returned to a former club is Paolo Maldini, who is back at Milan for the first time after his retirement.
“I laugh when I hear people say that Paolo has no experience to be a director – football and Milan are his world!
“He has almost 1,000 games for them under his belt, so I ask you: will be be able to talk to the team or spot a player?
“In football you need people who know football, because there’s also those who come from other worlds. Maldini transmitted the values of Milan to all of us.
“The most important lesson he gave me was this: ‘the biggest opponent is myself’. I love the partnership with Leonardo, they’re two good people and Leo is an expert director. They can build a winning Milan.
“Francesco Totti? He’s an institution. He’s important for the players, his relationship with the team is close and he’s a good choice to represent the club in terms of image.
“I still remember him on the pitch though. He saw what others couldn’t see, an absolute genius.”
Panucci also discussed what he expects to happen on the pitch tomorrow.
“I like Milan, last year they had a good campaign and they have everything they need to improve on sixth place.
“I put them among the five that will fight for the Champions League, along with Roma, but they’ve weakened a bit.
“[Radja] Nainggolan was someone who could light the fuse, [Kevin] Strootman was a warrior. [Justin] Kluivert is good but has to be evaluated, while [Bryan] Cristante and [Lorenzo] Pellegrini are the Azzurri of the future.
“Conti-Caldara-Romagnoli-Calabria, an all-Italian defensive line is something I like very much, the Milan of the past has come a long way starting from this basis.”