The historic sporting director of the Rossoneri during Berlusconi's golden era, Ariedo Braida, has granted an exclusive interview to Milannews.it.
Here are his words:
Ariedo Braida, Milan's situation is deteriorating. From the outside, what is your take on it?
"When things are going well, it seems like everything will always go smoothly and that there will never be dark times. Then suddenly, things stop working. In football, crises arrive unexpectedly, and it's difficult to understand what is happening. Right now, that is exactly what is happening to Milan."
More and more people are under scrutiny: from the ownership to the management to the players.
"There are many aspects to consider, not just one. Right now, Milan is experiencing an identity crisis. I am a Milanista, and I suffer; I don't want to criticize. But I do say that a group must be rebuilt through a sense of belonging. It may sound trivial, but it is truly important. If you don't have certain values, everything falls apart."
Are you referring to the management or the team?
"I am referring to the entire environment as a whole. From the highest level down to the base of the pyramid. Milan has a great history, a great past. After Real Madrid, it is the club that has won the most Champions League titles. One must understand the importance of wearing this shirt, the sense of responsibility in representing this club. The great Milan built its success through a sense of belonging, through a clear identity."
Just a year ago, Milan finished second.
"Crises always come, they come for everyone. Look at Manchester City. The difference lies in being able to find solutions. In this respect, Milan lacks the necessary experience. And experience is important—maybe not the most important thing, but it certainly helps. And it is something that cannot be bought."
Do Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Geoffrey Moncada need an experienced figure alongside them?
"In a few years, they will be much better than they are now. But they need to understand what Milan is. Mistakes are made by everyone, but you also need the talent to recognize who can play at San Siro and who cannot."
Are you referring to anyone in particular? Braida replied:
"I won’t name names because that wouldn’t be right, but I will just say that San Siro is not for everyone. And there are players who do not have the talent, the class to play there. That’s the point—you have to sense which players can play there and which cannot."
You spoke about identity: many highlight that the original sin was the removal of Paolo Maldini.
"Maldini is a figure that is missed, and it’s a shame. Because he wrote history and has Milan’s culture. That is the key point: you need people who have Milan’s culture. People like him, who can instill it thanks to their sense of belonging, identity, experience, and the legacy they helped build."
Your Milan went through two terrible years between 1996 and 1998: an 11th-place and a 10th-place finish despite the undeniable quality of the squad. In the summer of 1998, you revolutionized the team, and the Scudetto arrived.
"We made a radical choice with Zaccheroni, who played with a back three, whereas Milan had always played with a back four. But beyond formations, a coach needs the ability to break out of an impasse with a stroke of genius, with an idea. Ancelotti, for example, reinvented Pirlo in front of the defense. A coach must be able to develop new solutions because football is constantly evolving; it is not static."
Sergio Conceição seems to be in serious difficulty. Braida commented:
"I do not presume to judge him. He knows he has made some mistakes, as is normal. The key is being able to find solutions. And that is what I hope for him, for his own sake and for Milan’s. Unfortunately, this year is a struggle; the season is disappointing."
In closing: the fans protested against the ownership in Bologna, right from the start of the match. The facts show that since Berlusconi's departure, Milan has won only one league title.
"Men like Berlusconi are of such a level that replacing them is difficult. Today, one can have ambition, but that alone is not enough."
