The story between Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan and Real Madrid is one in four chapters, featuring eight goals scored (five in a single, magical night) and countless anecdotes to pass down. The first encounter was in April 1989, during the first leg of the European Cup semifinals. Van Basten equalised Hugo Sanchez's goal at the Bernabeu with a fantastic diving header, marking the first act of the saga. An act that would have its continuation later:
"In 1998, I coached in Madrid, and it was then that Emilio Butragueno, still a director at Real, confessed to me that we had been spied on and studied. They had reports where our speed was described as incredible, our rhythm as suffocating. It was the first time an Italian team went to the Santiago Bernabeu and took command," said Sacchi to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The catenaccio was set aside. Milan went to Madrid and dominated: Sacchi, what happened in the meantime?
"We went to play as protagonists; if they had the ball, we attacked to take it away from them, we never stepped back. The truth is that I had a team of reliable people, an adult team."
Upon returning to San Siro, Milan would experience one of the most thrilling nights in its history: a 5-0 win against Real. Do you remember? Sacchi replied:
"Many memories, one in particular that starts even before the match. We did things with commitment and seriousness, even in training. In practice matches, we went in hard, and that's how they injured Evani: for the qualities he had, Chicco was not easy to replace. I put the most willing player I had on the left wing, someone I was sure would do everything I asked of him: Carlo Ancelotti. He played a fantastic game and scored the first goal. We also won in the round of 16 the following year at San Siro, deservedly so: for me, that is fundamental. There is no success without merit; otherwise, it’s like having lost."
I hope all the Rossoneri players know the story of Milan. Ancelotti is now the coach of Real, the best coach in the world. Could he have ever expected it? Sacchi said:
"Carlo is a lovely man; he has called me at least seven times in recent days. He is intelligent and modest; after all, those are qualities that never travel separately. He was the first player I asked Berlusconi for, and he was hesitant. Milan had just finished fifth, and Carletto's knees didn't seem to offer great guarantees. I told him that with him, we would immediately win the championship. And we did."
The fourth previous encounter was a painless loss in Madrid. The Milan of '89-90 fell 1-0 but moved forward strongly based on the result of the first leg. This time it's a different story: the Rossoneri are the underdogs. Is there a chance to overturn the prediction?
"I hope all the players know the story of Milan, a story that is in the books of football. The club, with its style and vision, comes before the team, and the team comes before any individual; it all starts from here."
On the situation between Paulo Fonseca and Leao: Sacchi commented:
"I'll just say that I treated all my players the same way. Of course, Van Basten was the strongest, but I never compromised. Between a good player and a reliable one, I choose the latter. I just hope Fonseca already knew the players chosen in the summer, not just technically but also mentally. If there’s no total harmony, you will never have a valuable team."
