Demetrio Albertini believes that his former side AC Milan should still aim for the Scudetto despite the gap with Inter, and offered some advice to Sandro Tonali.
Albertini is considered as one of the key pillars of the legendary Milan sides of the 1990s and he spent most of his playing career (15 years) with the Rossoneri winning many trophies, including five Serie A titles and two UEFA Champions League titles with the club.
Albertini was also in the Italy squads for both the 1994 and 1998 World Cup as well as the 1996 and 2000 European Championships, reaching the finals of the 1994 WC and Euro 2000.
He spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his old club Milan and the moment they are going through, beginning by claiming that despite the recent form and the fact they are nine points behind their city rivals, Milan still have to look up.
“Continue to aim for the maximum goal, that is to say the Scudetto. It is absolutely normal that in a season there are moments like this, but the strong teams are the ones that know how to manage the negative moments. Real groups are built in difficulties,” he said (via MilanLive).
“You have to keep dreaming about the title for two reasons: first to have no regrets in the end, it is possible that Inter stumbles in a few games, I do not think that they dominated against Atalanta and Torino. If they slow down a bit, it would be even worse for Milan not to have tried. Secondly, because if you aim high you have more incentives, you know you are playing for the most important goal there is.
“Milan have players who have been highly valued lately, I am thinking of Kessie and Calhanoglu. Calabria has made a significant leap in quality this season, and then the absentees, who obviously weighed in this phase, will return: Bennacer is very important, Ibra has no alternatives. Even if those who played in their place responded well, making it clear that the real strength is having a mature group.”
On the fight in the Champions League: “There are still so many games missing in an indecipherable context like never before. Between injuries, suspensions, Covid recoveries, fatigue, anything can happen. Behind they are all there: Juventus does not surprise me, Roma and Napoli have remained in the area. The decisive moment comes now, in spring.
On Tonali: “I see him too shy. I believe he can become an important player in the history of the club and I wish him so. He is super talented and very young: he just needs to have more personality.”
Finally on the Europa League goal: “I have always been taught to aim for the most ambitious goal, at the cost of managing after the disappointment of not having made it. But Milan can do it very well, they have already done an excellent performance in the first leg. Today they know how to do it and where to start again.”
