Maldini to Bein: "We are the youngest team in Europe. Theo's goal is to become the best"

Paolo Maldini spoke to Bein Sports France in an exclusive interviews about AC Milan. Here are his statements:

"We have one of the youngest teams in Europe. The team needs a leader like Ibrahimovic. We tried to reinforce in the mercato with experienced elements. We have tried to sign Zlatan from LA Galaxy in 2018, even. About his renewal, he has told us that it depends on his body. I don't see why he can't continue with us for another season."

On signing Theo Hernandez:

"When I met Theo Hernandez, I saw in his eyes that he was this sensible young boy. His target is clear, he must become among the top 3 in the world and to be a starter in the France National Team."

On Sacchi:

"Without Sacchi, the great Milan would not have existed. Desailly? he didn't want to be a coach. Here at Milan we have always had great strikers."

On the season:

"It is a very special year during which we play not normal condition without an audience every 3 complex calendar days, the players must be up to the task it is their work can be thanks to this absence of public this team has succeeded in results unexpected."

On the renewals:

"We have three players expiring, and we also have contracts expiring in 2022. But it's normal practice, we are working. I always say that it takes two to be happy to reach an agreement, the players are professionals and think 100% of the pitch. The hope is to find an agreement soon."

On the rivalry between France and Italy:

"In year 2000, they deserved the win. The failure of Gourcuff? Well, sometimes talent is not enough. A team is built on many things."

On what needs to be done to become great again:

"We have an American ownership which came after the Chinese era. I think that the road to reach certain results is a long one, we must be self-sustainable in the mercato without signing the top class players in the world of football. We must instead look at young profiles to strengthen the team well."

On what happened after the 5-0 loss against Atalanta:

"We started with Giampaolo who did not work, during the season in October it is normal for the players to grow slowly after Atalanta. The idea to give these young people a point of refuge by buying Zlatan was heard by Elliot and from this we had excellent results."

On what the club did during the Covid-19 lockdown:

"When we spoke to the players on Skype, we always insisted by telling them that we can improve our ranking in the league table. We have shown in the resumption of the league the qualities of this team."

On Theo Hernandez:

"He already has a UCL to his name, with the experience of Real Madrid. He was losing himself a bit and when we spoke with him I didn't want everything I was told about Theo I told him sincerely that he needed revenge, I told him that you have to work a lot, I believed in him and the company too, but his response on the ground was incredible."

Can Milan compete with Liverpool, Manchester City, and PSG to attract big names in the mercato?

"Apart from Juve and Inter, Milan are not at the same level even if we are first it takes 2 more years in the chamions league to have a competitive team. Ac milan has been playing for 8 years without Champions League football and the economic level is something that has an impact."

On the name 'Maldini':

"First of all, my father tried to protect me, but in the end you have to know what your fate is and what your father's fate was. I suffered from this authority when I hadn't done anything yet and I was sad when there was too much attention on my children. I believe that what matters to a child who starts a difficult sport like football is to have the peace of mind to try to improve himself, to have an idea of a life of sacrifice, when there is too much intention and comparison with his father. It is something that can be overwhelming from a psychological point of view so the reaction can be that of saddening or fighting but I understand that unfortunately even without wanting it my presence was not easy for the career of Christian Maldini, who is the oldest one. Daniel has a chance compared to Chrisitian he plays up front so there is no comparison with Cesare and me."

Can you see Daniel Maldini spending his full career at AC Milan like you?

"It's more and more difficult and the more we continue the more difficult it will be. When I was young, it was unthinkable to be a foreign player. Now the borders are open, it's normal for a young person who is not yet of age to have experience abroad, if I have to imagine my son's career as possibly close to mine inside a team that my family loves, I will say 'why not', it's great to be at a high level one day and to play in the team that we love."

Marcel Desailly intervenes and asks Paolo Maldini a question: Do you want to become a coach?

"When I stopped playing, I didn't know what I would have done because honestly I didn't know what to do what I wouldn't have, I didn't want to be a coach because I couldn't do it seeing my father's life always with the suitcase ready it was not the kind of life I wanted once the end of my career came. I spent 9 years without having worked in football."

On the new generations of coaches:

"We are still clinging to the idea of the closed team but AC milan plays on attack, Juve plays with 3 pure strikers, what has always marked us is the attention for defense, we had never been with closed teams in defense, we've always had great attacking talents."

Which player impressed you the most?

"Marcel was a special partner, I remember the first day without a precise role, the coach said: what do we do with him? full-back, central? We told him to play in front of the defense and there he showed a sort of 'driving', an incredible ability to cover a simplicity that we needed at the time. with Jean Pierre Papin who did not have the success he had in France at home but it was two strongest players of my time."

Tags: Maldini