Antonio Mirante spoke in the new episode of Milan TV's 'Unlocker Room' - The Rossoneri Podcast.
In the final match of the season against Salernitana, he said goodbye alongside Giroud, Kjaer, and Caldara. Below are the key statements:
"Let's say that in football, being the third goalkeeper like me usually means you're at the end of your career. I was fortunate enough to join a great club, and in my first year, we even won the championship, so I'm ending my career in a fantastic way. I think anyone in my position would be happy to end it like this, especially someone in my role, which is much more enduring. I'll be 41 in July, then we'll see... I'm not saying I'm quitting, but we'll see. Anyway, it's a very beautiful and unexpected kind of ending."
What role does the goalkeeper play? Mirante replied:
"It's a role of hierarchies, but contrary to the past and to what people think... You know, the third goalkeeper is seen as someone who keeps the group together, brings some laughs, and acts as a glue, managing certain moments... But the only way to raise the level is to push. If I train hard and well at 40, everyone else is almost obliged to push and train hard too. This is the first thing. Then, it's unquestionable that due to my role and experience, I have to do a bit more in certain moments. It's also right for me to support my colleagues; I've been through things before them. Even though football has changed, the moments in a season are almost the same as in the past. It's obvious that I need to be a great professional and be available to my colleagues. As for the small group of goalkeepers, it's true, it has to be this way because this mini team has to think together about earning points for Milan. It's a crucial role: it requires a great sense of responsibility, and if you face it with awareness of your abilities and with personality, you must know that you have to bring points. The higher the team's level, the higher this mini family's level must be."
Tell us about your experience at Siena?
"I arrived at Siena, and Antonio Conte was the assistant coach with De Canio as the head coach. Sometimes, when I was at Juve, I would train with the first team, so I almost knew him as a teammate. He was incredible. He talked a lot, was very animated on the bench, and had high expectations in training... Knowing him as a player, I wasn't surprised by his professionalism. But the personality he had as an assistant coach was incredible. However, that Siena team was also good. Chiesa, Locatelli, Tudor, there were many strong players."
On Mike Maignan:
"Mike is a boxer; he has the focus of a boxer and the physique of some kind of animal... He's strong, fast, and flexible. The save he made in Verona, ending up with his legs wide apart, I hurt myself just watching him, but he got up and said maybe he felt something, but he was fine. He's an incredible athlete with amazing mental qualities, an absolutely top-level goalkeeper and I consider him among the top 3 in the world today. Despite our role being reactive, where you have to react to many things, he knows he has to act in a certain way to prepare himself to react in a certain way. He's a very balanced person, with great personality but also very sensitive both in our group and with the other guys. He knows how to fit in well with the team."
On Marco Sportiello, Mirante said:
"He surprised me with his humour, he's totally crazy. Crazy in a good way. He surprised me with how he came into the Champions League match in the 85th minute... one thinks the second goalkeeper should be ready as soon as the first gets injured. There's a big difference between saying and doing, and I must be honest: it's something I envy him for. Not because I might do badly if I had to suddenly come in one day, but because of this ability he showed. This is a sign of great training and great certainty."
A story about the Scudetto...
"One thing I remember well is that once we were in the gym, and there were about 10 games left to the end, we were still behind. Florenzi, who had just won the European Championship, told me, 'You know, I feel the same magic, something similar to last summer.' I turned to him and said, 'Are you sure? Because we're behind...' And he said: 'Yes, look closely and then tell me.' After 2 or 3 games, I told him, 'I didn't feel that last summer because I wasn't there, but you might be right.' So when there's something, there's something..."
So where did you watch Bologna - Inter?
"I glanced at it every now and then... You know, when everyone believes in not jinxing it... As soon as you watch, those you're rooting against score, so better not watch (laughs)."
