The former AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini has released some statements to the official Milan channel. Here are his words:
"It is not easy to explain the emotions of wearing the jersey of your favorite team. The Champions League has always been important for the fans as well. There was great anticipation, then when you got on the pitch you knew what you had to do. But the wait from the championship match to the European one was full of emotions."
On hearing the Champions League anthem:
"It has become like a national anthem now, it's something exciting. When it comes to a sense of belonging, Milan have a sense of belonging to the Champions League. Think of the regret of the years in which Milan did not qualify."
On the Berlusconi era:
"Berlusconi and Galliani's slogan was: 'We will become the best club in the world'. They have turned the dream of many into reality. That Milan has changed something in football, it is recognised by everyone. Wearing the Milan shirt was a sense of responsibility."
On the Champions League semi-final against Monaco:
"At the end of the first one, ahead 1-0, we entered the locker room aware of the fact that if we had gone to the final we would have had neither Baresi nor Costacurta who would have been disqualified. It had been a destabilizing moment, but we had to finish the match. There were 10 of us, but at the time it wasn't a big concern. I think one of the best goals I've scored came out. The biggest emotion was the run towards the midfield and our Curva and Baresi embracing me", said Albertini.
On the 1994 final:
"In 1993, I had lost the final against Marseille, but I had also been in the team that had won the previous two Champions League. I was part of the team, but he wasn't one of the protagonists. When I went to dinner at Ancelotti's, he didn't have many photos, but he did have one in which he raised the Champions League trophy. My dream was to win it too and thus have a photo to put at home. As you can imagine it was an incredible emotion, it was my dream."
On the brace against FC Barcelona:
"It's a good memory, that double was wonderful. It is one of the best games I have played in my career. I definitely put it in the top five. I remember it with great pleasure. They were two good goals from afar."
Albertini on today's AC Milan team:
"Milan has rebuilt a DNA, perhaps different from that of the past where there were many great champions, while in the current one there are many young talents. The foundations have been laid to build an even stronger team. From the lockdown onwards, all the players have grown, the merit is certainly the manager. The whole team has grown, so there are also merits of the company. There is a different philosophy than in our times. It's a Milan that gives me hope for the present and the future."
