Former legendary full-back of AS Roma and AC Milan, Cafu, spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an exclusive interview and said these words ahead of tonight's fixture at the Olimpico stadium, valid for the UEFA Europa League second leg of quarter-finals:
"At the Olimpico, the spectacle never lacks, thanks to a unique audience in the world. Ask any player who has played there about the feelings they experience when the Roma anthem is sung. It will be a very beautiful match. At San Siro, De Rossi was tactically smart, with the move of El Shaarawy to the right. An intelligent choice, which, however, should not surprise, considering what Daniele has been as a player and now as a coach. And then, I add: he is a great man. Just think about what happened in Udine with Ndicka."
Regarding Milan, Cafu said:
"A failed season in case of no victory? Absolutely not! In the end, only one team wins, in the cup or in the league, where Pioli has already won the league title. The teams that reach the final stages in the cups are all strong and may be eliminated for different reasons, but that does not mean they have failed. Milan has been participating continuously in European cups, it cannot certainly be criticized for an exit in the quarter-finals."
On Paulo Dybala and Rafael Leao:
"They are two true phenomena, two who handle the ball like few others in the world and who amaze and entertain audiences. Difficult to choose, really."
On memories as a former player of both teams:
"I have many. At Milan, I won some trophies. Milan fans are passionate, but I was struck by their attitude, respectful of privacy, something I didn't always find. But I'm not referring to Rome, where I started my cycle in Italy and won a colossal league title, impossible to forget", Cafu said,"If I have to choose a memory, I say the sombrero to Nedved in the derby. A friend of mine, a Roma fan, Vincenzo, motivated me. As soon as I had the opportunity, I thought it could be the most elegant way to annihilate the opponent."
On the late presidents Francesco Sensi (Roma) and Silvio Berlusconi (Milan), Cafu said:
"They were two giants who gave a lot to football, not only in economic terms. But now everything is different: investment funds, foreign consortiums, Americans, Chinese. It's the sense of globalisation."
