The day after the presentation of the Generali Stadium, and on the eve of the Milan derby, AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale also spoke to La Repubblica. Below are some extracts from his statements.
What will it take to climb back up?
"We are only a quarter of the way through the journey. In January, we will be opportunistic, but you have got to know my style: when I want a player, I do everything possible to get him. That does not mean spending money like a drunken sailor, but I will not waste time," as relayed via Milan News.
Where will you strengthen?
"We need to strengthen the bench. We want to play Amorim-ball, with a high tempo and quick transitions. The lads run a lot, so we need to be able to rotate them."
Will there be a new Head of Football on board? Krösche has been mentioned.
"Everyone is discussing the football CEO as if he were Moses coming down from the mountain! I am talking to Krösche and a thousand others. I have no accelerated negotiations with anyone."
How will the club's management change?
"I am not a football professional, I am an owner. However, whoever arrives will have to work with me. I will no longer disappear. I have lost four years, and I am furious about that wasted time. I will never hand over the keys to Milan to anyone again."
On the new stadium that was presented yesterday, Cardinale said:
"It is a statement to the world. We are doing everything possible to return to the top. When we have finished, I would like to take the group of professionals working on it, create a company and make it available to Serie A to help others build their facilities. The product needs to improve. When I speak to American TV distributors, they tell me they only want the Premier League and the Champions League. This is a problem."
Gerry Cardinale on Serie A:
"Serie A is like Hollywood before Netflix. Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros were convinced of their superiority. Then Netflix arrived and swept them away. Italian football must understand why it is no longer the Premier League. Without change, we will not return to winning."
Tomorrow, the derby against Inter.
"I respect Marotta and Inter. They have gone through changes of ownership and difficulties without missing a beat. Even when Inzaghi left, they did not stop. They have earned their place where they are. Yes, I lose sleep thinking about Inter. But I like competition, I am confident, and it is only a matter of time before we are better than them again."
You are now often in Milan. Have you settled in?
"I am thinking about buying a home here. I would like to enjoy the city, go for dinner at Langosteria and stroll along Via Montenapoleone."
What will you do with San Donato?
"We have everything in place to begin work on a 20,000-seat NBA Europe arena. We want to be involved with a franchise in Milan. I also have ambitions in tennis."
