The AC Milan president, Paolo Scaroni, released an interview to the microphones of Corriere della Sera as he discusses the victory of the Scudetto once more:
"Do investment funds also have a heart? Sure, they have a sporty heart! I would say it was an exhilarating experience for them. Gordon was more used to it, Paul had never seen Milan. They arrived from Florida with great confidence, they were very optimistic, we Italians were more superstitious. I kept saying that I wanted to finish fourth, as I said all year, even on Sunday, when it was no longer possible."
On the Scudetto secret:
"I would say that today's AC Milan has its own style and its style is characterized by having professionals in every position. Elliott is a world champion of investments, he never made us lack financial support (Milan are not in debt), he set spending limits, without ever wanting to decide how we should invest. Ivan Gazidis is a managing director who toured the world of football after a law degree from Oxford. Paolo Maldini has been a great professional all his life. And then there is Stefano Pioli, very good. There is a world of professionalism, each with its role and its freedom of action, respecting those of the others. This is a managerial model that works in all companies, it had to be carried over to football."
Scaroni on the non-renewals of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu:
"I haven't seen the slightest hesitation on either. Sustainability is a route on which there is no compromise and it made me say that I wanted to reach fourth place, which was the minimum to keep it."
On the possibility of creating a stadium for Milan only in Sesto San Giovanni:
"This is not our intention. I keep both options open, San Siro and Sesto San Giovanni. Elliott has embarked on a path in which he is probing sales opportunities, which will take time anyway, at least three months. After that, he will decide the new owner, RedBird or who he will be. I believe that anyone who buys Milan buys a jewel, a car that works well, with a formidable audience. Then if the buyer adds his skills, and RedBird has them, so be it."
On the gap between the Italians and the other big names in Europe:
"The sale of TV rights is fundamental in our balance sheet. In the world, Italy is losing ground. The Premier collects 2.1 billion a year, La Liga 897 million. Serie A takes 139 from Infront for Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, and 57 from CBS for the USA. The total is 196 million. Football is a sport, but also a show, to enter the entertainment market I have to equip myself so that the world can watch my games", said Scaroni.
"If the Serie A is poorly equipped? It's a tough job for super professionals. There are three billion people between Pakistan, India, Indonesia and China. To win them I have to win the competition with other sports and within football with the other Leagues. How you do it? All the components must contribute to improving the show. The stadiums must be full, modern, well lit, like in the Premier League. The championship must be as exciting as possible, therefore with 18 or 16 teams. Big matches must be designed for Shanghai or New York times and matches need to be less boring."
On Italian football, Scaroni said:
"With us there are too many breaks, too many players wasting time, too many referees' whistles, 26.8 fouls whistled per game against 20.4 for the Premier, so to speak. A match with us has an effective time of less than 50 '. Referees and players also need to understand that they are part of the show. It is an existential question for us because money is the fuel of football, but it is not just a problem of money."
Scaroni on his experience with Milan:
"I learned a lot of new things. I don't take credit, I gave my contribution when I was CEO and when Ivan was away. I spent a lot of time in the Lega Calcio, at least 10 hours a week. I learned a lot and did little. It is not easy with this governance."
