AC Milan's technical area director, Paolo Maldini, spoke at length to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an exclusive interview. The former legendary captain discussed many topics, starting with the victory of the Scudetto:
"To mum and dad, I hope they can be proud of me up there. Dad might have not said anything to me, just a pat on the back or a hug. He was of few words especially with me. Over time, he softened a lot. On the other hand, my two children are also of few words. As I was when I played: talking was a stretch, I tried to do it as little as possible."
About Daniel Maldini:
"In Reggio Emilia during the award ceremony at a certain point I heard the speaker announcing the 25th, Florenzi. Then I realized and I said to myself: 'now it's up to Daniel, how nice'. I saw him come towards me with his eyes downcast. He wasn't looking straight at me. I knew, he always does that. We gave ourselves a slightly slippery high-five. The next day I saw him again here in the living room. I told him: 'Oh Dani, congratulations'. We hugged. And it ended there. A problem in the locker room? No, because he is a very good guy who knows how to stand in his place. He is appreciated for who he is. And then the field speaks for itself. If you are not suitable for that type of level your teammates recognize it immediately. This does not happen for Daniel. Then it is clear that he must grow but his autonomy of thought and of his life is clear within the group."
On the Scudetto victory as a director:
"It is the first triumph of a new life. This time I didn't play with speed and technique but with my mind and my values. I consider it beautiful. One thing unites it to other titles I won: the passion for Milan and football. I would say it is a masterpiece. It is the victory of ideas, will and team spirit. We stayed at the top for two years and managed to do something super against predictions. And it is not trivial that in the last 20 years Milan had won only two league titles. That's why it gives us so much pride. It is similar to the title won with Zaccheroni in 1999. But it came with less investment and more ideas."
Paolo Maldini on the saying that 'Inter los the Scudetto':
"They are opinions. I say we scored 86 points. And only once in the history of three-point championships was Milan able to do more. And I would like to add that the enthusiasm we registered in the fans was also due to the game that the team showed and the courage we showed. Even in the market choices. This winter we had Kjaer out with an injury and Tomori injured his meniscus. There was no budget. We could have borrowed a player to plug the hole. Instead we trusted our young people. Because we know they can gives us a lot of guarantees."
On the secret of this Milan team:
"From 2019 to today, we recruited 21 players. A mix of experienced guys and many young people. Massara and I told each of them the story of a project that was then realized. So we have been credible and this is an important part of our success. Of course, there were different stories. In Zlatan, for example, we asked him to give us what he could bring to the group right now. For a young man like Kalulu the speech was: 'The first six months, watch and learn. You are in the homeland of defense, memorise everything. Sooner or later the opportunity arrives'."
On the satisfaction of winning as a director:
"It's the personal relationship I have established with the players. Most of them are young people who needed guidance. Many consider me as a second father to them."
On the criticism of the referee of Milan - Udinese game:
"Every now and then, you need to say things as they are. I do little because I prefer to ask for explanations from the separate arbitration officers. And there is almost always an openness to dialogue. That time it wasn't like that and then I decided to talk . However, in general we don't like to complain because this can create alibis for the players and there would be risks of adding something not positive in the public."
On working with a reduced budget, Paolo Maldini said:
"The 21 players we took under my direct management resulted in a net expenditure of 75 million between entries and exits . When I decided to stay after Leonardo's farewell, I had a higher budget in mind. Then, the idea of doing things, but of doing them not necessarily but because you are convinced must prevail over that of spending what you have. If I can save the club I will. And this has meant that my vision has completely changed. I understood that young people must be given opportunities. But it is necessary to make them feel trust especially in difficult moments. Something that never happened to me as a boy."
On Mike Maignan:
"We relied on the opinion of Dida, Ragno and Betti, our goalkeeper trainers. So talking with him we understood what he had in mind, his personality, the desire to win like no other."
If Donnarumma congratulated him on the Scudetto:
"No, but during the year we heard and then saw each other at Ibra's 40th birthday party. What if he has repented? I don't know, I still hope he's happy. He has given a lot to Milan."
On Sandro Tonali:
"They said he could be the new Pirlo but he felt like Gattuso. I would say that he has the characteristics of both. The first year, he lived in a difficult situation. He came from an injury and suffered the pressure of being in his favourite club. We understood this by keeping him with us and the results are seen."
On Stefano Pioli:
"Being normal in 2022 is already something special. I knew Stefano because I played with him in the Under 21 and I always had respect for the man and the coach. From the outside I've always liked him. What surprised me is the intensity of the transmission of his ideas and the energy he puts into it at Milanello. I told him several times: 'You can change all the game systems you want but don't lose this energy which is vital for us'. And look, he's also tough in the things he says. I really like this thing."
On discussing technical issues:
"With (Frederic) Massara, we often sit down with him (Pioli) to try to improve something. We do it above all when things are going well because we are more open to dialogue", said Paolo Maldini
On if Pioli is the right man for opening the next cycle of the club:
"He is certainly an important component. Then of course there must be the will of the club to open a cycle . Today Milan with a high-level strategic vision can go on to compete next year with the biggest ones. If, on the other hand, a maintenance vision was chosen, without investments, without an idea from Milan, we would remain in limbo among the best six or seven teams in Italy to try to win back the Scudetto and qualify for the Champions League. This is why it is time for the owners, Elliott or the one that might arrive, to close the three-year period and understand what strategy they want for the future. With two or three major purchases, and the consolidation of the players that we have we can compete for something bigger in the Champions League."
Paolo Maldini on RedBird:
"I had no contact with them. We were told this after it appeared in the press. But I had perceived something living inside the headquarters. But it wasn't a problem. In the end, when you manage to create a special team group like ours, these indiscretions do not disturb the environment. At Milanello, we went ahead knowing in any case that we had a strong club behind us, always punctual in payments. Of course, there was curiosity. Some player with whom we were talking about renewals told us: 'Let's wait because maybe there will be more money'."
On the transfer market and the work with Frederic Massara:
"Have we been moving for some time? For months, but at the moment we have not had the financial resources to think about this qualitative leap. Also because we are in a phase of transition. We will see ... And in addition there is also the question relating to my contract and Massara's. We are expiring and have not renewed. I must say that for our path and for what has happened in the past even during the period of crisis with Rangnick, I find it disrespectful that to date the CEO and Elliott have not even sat down to talk to us. I'm just saying to talk. Because they might also tell us 'your work was not good enough to continue'. Or it may be that I say 'I don't like your strategy'. As I said at the time, I like to be a sort of guarantee for the AC Milan player. I'm not the right person to do a project that doesn't have a winning idea. I could never do that. The reality is that the owners have never sat down at the table and this is not good."
Paolo Maldini on Rafael Leao:
"Non transferable? Of course, he is a diamond that is still in the making. A player who had great improvements from one year to the next. We took him off the Lille bench by paying him 24 million and we immediately put a clause of 150 million on him because Boban, Massara and I believed in him. Potentially, he has always been a champion. He had to follow a path which, moreover, is not yet finished. He is extremely intelligent and needed a little help. I talked to him a lot. It is clear that if in the future Milan will not be at Leao level or Leao will not be at Milan level, things will change. But in this moment the growth is exponential for the club and for him."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"I spoke to him on Monday and we made an appointment in a fortnight . I see no problem in finding an agreement. Playing so little is certainly not at ease with him. We will see what happens in the next two weeks. Everything will be done for the good of him and Milan. From what I understand his intention is to move forward."
On the possible signings for the attack:
"Sure, we are talking with (Divock) Origi, this is well addressed. Let's not forget that Giroud is a champion, a high-level player. But we also have Rebic. The solutions are there. Then it is normal that to compete you have to think about improving something. We will move according to the budget."
On Sven Botman:
"We followed him, but there are many good players in that role."
On the Inter and Juventus transfer market operations:
"Juve has no intention of stopping at Vlahovic. Inter will do the same. Next season, the championship will be stronger, also because Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and Atalanta will also be competitive. This is why the reasoning on our strategy is fundamental."
On Paul Singer, Elliott founder and owner:
"He was delighted, he knew my story. He complimented me on the values passed on to the club. And he was delighted and surprised by the passion of the people. He knew I believed. His son, Gordon, had told him about the message I sent him six months ago: 'Get ready to win the Scudetto'. Was I already thinking about the title at Christmas? Yes, I knew and believed that there was this possibility."
On the new stadium project:
"San Siro was made great by the teams that played there. If we want to be competitive, we need a new stadium. It is the only way to be competitive in Europe. But the new stadium cannot have 55,000 spectators, it must be large and capacious. Football is a popular sport. We owe our fans a facility as big as the San Siro", concluded Paolo Maldini his interview.
