Ariedo Braida has criticised the AC Milan management once again, claiming the club currently lack any kind of identity and that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not qualified for his role.
Braida is someone who knows what it means to win. He was the CEO of Milan from 1986 to 2002 during the Silvio Berlusconi era, then he was sporting director at the club until 2013. His work brought in players now considered icons, and virtually every trophy was won under his watch.
In 2015 Braida became the sporting director of Barcelona where he worked for four years. He would go on to be Cremonese’s CEO from 2020 to 2023, when he resigned following their relegation to Serie B.
The glory days he oversaw are long gone, with the Rossoneri currently sat in ninth place in the league and out of the Champions League too, leading to talk of a revolution during the summer including a new coach and director.
Braida spoke during an interview with SoFoot and naturally he commented on the state of his beloved Milan, with his comments relayed by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
How does it feel seeing Milan like this?
“I’m sad, seeing Milan in this state makes me feel bad.”
What are the reasons behind it?
“An identity crisis and a lack of sense of belonging. Big mistakes have been made for years, at all levels and the consequence is that we have a club and a team without an identity.
“I predicted at the start of the season that it would not be a competitive team: the club is too unstable, there is no clear direction, coaches come and go and the squad changes every year.
“To be ambitious you need continuity, for example by letting a coach work for 2-3 years, ten if possible.”
Is the blame shared?
“The players are responsible, but it is difficult to perform in a club without an identity. What is missing is a guide, a strong man like Berlusconi was. With him and Galliani there was a guideline.”
So Milan need a strong man, like Maldini for example…
“Firing him was a huge mistake, and throwing him out in that inexcusable way. Maldini is a legend who worked very well and represented the institution at its best.”
Not like Ibrahimovic?
“He is not a point of reference, a strong man. Ibrahimovic does not yet have the skills and experience to be a strong man, capable of leading a club, he is only a communicator.”
What about the key players, like Leao, Hernandez and Maignan?
“They are talented players, but they are not leaders capable of uniting the team and relaunching it. And they do not have the consistency and personality to be leaders. No one is at Milan today.”
The solution?
“I would sign 4-5 Italian players, like at Inter for example. This allows you to create an identity, and then I would take players with character and personality, that is the most important thing.”
He is very right, all our officials lack the experience, if someone like Gandini could be brought in as an operational VP, then get an Italian DS, and begin to sign Italian players, it would better, we have too many Foreigners, let us try and fix the list issue, even if we are not going to be in Europe, we need to prepare for future scenarios, it is grossly irresponsible of the management to have an issue, and subsequently have squad reductions in UCL lists, we need to plan for the future…
Ricci, Coppola/Comuzzo, Lucca are a must
Followed by few potential signing:
Gnoto, Rovella, Fabbian, Raspadori, Pisilli
Ideally, Rovella and Fabian. Midfield trio from any of the 4 Ricci, Rovella, Tiji, Fofana with subs being Musah, Fabbian, Bondo would be day and night to what we have now…
English duo of Tomori and Abraham substituted with Coppola/Comuzzo and Lucca.
Reintegrate Alexis, buy out Walker and Sottil.
LB -> use Theo money for de Cuyper and another talent…
Signor Braida should be hired before Pratici and any other.
He is correct on facets and is true to Milan.
Identity or lack of has killed Milan and no leadership
Ricci, Tonalli, Rovella, Fabian and we can also go for De-cuyper, Chiesa, Arda guller. Buyout Walker and Sottil. Followed by the signing of young & talented center forward like Mahmud Adams Abubakar of fc heart Abuja (Nigeria) incase of the rotation!!
That would be dream…Gandini and Braida have Milan in their blood and DNA. To the core, just like Il Capitano.
Should have never kicked them out in the first place but sadly that’s the risk of new ownership & direction.
They would reset the club’s to it’s foundation values and every newcomer to ACM would know what it is like joining this once great club.
FFS, LISTEN TO THE MAN!!! He knows what he’s talking about!
Lot of us been saying this since their first shopping spree. It was bound for failure. Two and a half seasons later, they didn’t learn anything. They got Sottil to patch that regulation hole Calabria left.
Can’t say I don’t enjoy this sh*tstorm hitting our ownership and so called management🍿
This is exactly how I see it, thank you Braida for saying what is needs to be said. Why he is not being considered is a mystery
Perhaps some of the commentators here who believe we don’t need Italians and that firing Maldini was OK, might listen to one of the most successful men in the business.
I knew we were in trouble with this ownership from month 1.
I couldn’t agree with Braida more. However, the revolution that must happen in the summer isn’t just a new coach and director, but also a new owner. Otherwise, we’ll likely see more of the same abject inconsistency and mediocrity at ACM.
Berlusconi was charismatic, truly rich, loved ACM, had football nous, and put his money where his mouth was. And his long-serving deputy, the courtly Galliani, was very shrewd. The two of them were a great double act.
Berlusconi, unlike the current owner, knew how to run a football club, installing trusted, competent, and respected men in key positions, setting clear goals for them, and demanding excellence. And satisfying the fans was one of his major priorities. That the club rose to the summit of world football during his era was no accident.
Zlatan was a great player, but I’m afraid he’s crass. The loyal and legendary Maldini, on the other hand, is a club icon loaded with class; he – not the Swede – must be the face of ACM. The owner’s decision in 2023 to sack him was a terrible own goal. The club’s troubles on the pitch since then, culminating in the implosion of recent weeks, can be traced back to that fateful moment.
It’s an Italian club and it makes sense that we would have an Italian core. There are good pieces out there, but the league isn’t overflowing with abundance of talent. Good players are snapped up.
Mid 00’s had a great balance of foreigners and Italians. That’s more or less the model that needs to be followed.
The problem is we sold the one up and comers Tonali. So even if we did have one we’d probably cash in on him. Yes Italy doesn’t have the same level of players as before that I agree with. But out of the best that’s available Inter is taking most of them to create their team (bastoni, barella for instance who are part of the Italy senior team). And it fills slots for squad list requirements – that’s the part I don’t get about management.
He is write only for that era now you have to adapt to new generational needs. This generation is grow and adapt in my opinion you can not have an identity and focus on that to build a team to find a wining form. You need to adapt and have a really technologically reliable athletic system for the team and players individually. He is right that there is not enough Italian players with grrrrrinta any more this is not AC MILAN fault, its the way new generation are being raised.
WTF with this redbird. Just buy and sell. This is Milan, need red and black blood inside.