Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello has hit out at the club’s ownership for the sacking of Paolo Maldini over the summer, drawing comparisons with Jose Mourinho’s firing today.
Less than 48 hours after the final game of the 2022-23 season against Hellas Verona at San Siro, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara were sacked as the technical and sporting director arousing questions about the plans moving forward.
The reasons for the fall-out between Maldini and RedBird Capital were debated at length, but many pointed the finger at the ownership and said that Maldini had not been treated in an appropriate way given his club legend status.
Fast forward to today, and Mourinho was given his marching orders by Roma. The 3-1 defeat against Milan on Sunday proved to be the final straw, with the Giallorossi sat in ninth place with eight wins from 20 league games.
Capello was the head coach of both Roma and Milan in the 1990s and 2000s, as well as a player for both too, and he spoke to Sky about American ownerships.
“I think that these American companies work without respecting the people they collaborate with. We saw it at Milan with Maldini and today in Trigoria with Mourinho,” he began (via Calciomercato.com).
“There is no sensitivity on their part, but only business. On the other hand, I think that respect is also needed, perhaps by reaching an agreement first and separately and not with a statement and a phone call.
“That something wasn’t working was clear from the fact that they didn’t respond to his requests. They treated him in the least respectful way and we are talking about one of the most important coaches in history. It also happened to me in Russia, where they warned me at the airport.
“De Rossi replacing Mourinho? There were difficulties in terms of numbers with many players unavailable, but it is an opportunity for De Rossi to start as he did as a player in Roma with me. Like me he started in SPAL and we have something in common.
“It will be difficult, but knowing the Roman environment he has to show his worth. As a footballer he was very good, now he has to show it as a coach.
“He has to work on the players and show that they are a real team and the fans will have to support the team much more.”
