Interviewed this morning by La Repubblica, former Milan player Alessandro Costacurta, now a pundit for Sky Sport, spoke about the Champions League and Italy’s difficult week, which saw all its teams involved in the playoffs eliminated:
"A year ago, we Italians seemed to be the rulers of Europe; now we are licking our wounds. But that wasn’t a Renaissance, and this isn’t a relapse into the Middle Ages. The elimination of Milan, Atalanta, and Juve was just a collective mishap."
Regarding the transition from Paolo Maldini to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, what has changed at Milan? Costacurta commented:
"Paolo has the right level of detachment and an analytical intelligence. That’s why he was the best defender in history and a great director. His Scudetto remains a miracle. Zlatan has charisma, but he needs to train his judgment. The last transfer window was a good sign, but he is still in the learning phase—just like Leão. He can become a champion, but he is not one yet. Today, that word is overused. I was not a champion, but I was able to play alongside world-class players—we made history together. What’s needed is commitment, the right attitude, and the desire to learn."
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