In his recent interview, Paolo Maldini spoke at length about his role as an executive at AC Milan. (Read all of his statements here). Here is what he had to say to AKOS podcast:
"When I became an executive, drawing from my 25 years of experience and recalling the many difficult moments I went through, I tried to leverage that experience to support the young players. These young guys often don't yet have the proper structure to handle the pressures that come with this profession. People always see the glamorous side but not the pressure aspect. I believe there's still much work to be done in this area, which remains largely unexplored. Many foreign owners don't fully understand this issue and are reluctant to address it because they lack the tools to do so. We know very well the importance of providing support, even on a moral level, to players before, after, and during training sessions. It's also important to observe how they train to understand whom we are dealing with. I always say these intangible aspects significantly contribute to a club's success. These intangible elements are difficult to explain on an Excel sheet to new owners; they are beyond the control or reach of an owner. It seems like you have a magic formula, but you don't, it's something that made you successful if you had it. Success doesn't just mean winning, it also means trying to do the best you can."
