This morning, Alessandro Costacurta has looked at the situations facing AC Milan and where the team can go from here.
The upcoming season is a big one for Milan. Ultimately, they have a lot to get right and the time to get it right is getting smaller. Indeed, there are several things to focus on and the core people to do that are not in place.
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After all, the squad must be assessed and the will of players to adapt must be seen sooner rather than later. Whilst Oliver Glasner had a six-hour meeting with the club to discuss his plans, he will still need to look at the squad at Milanello.
Looking at the future
There has been plenty of talk about the managerial situation, but now Costacurta has focused on the team itself and the futures of their stars. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, as can be seen below, he covered the topic of a new core.
“I’d like someone who can finally discipline the team, who can restore enthusiasm, play, pace, and identity. I’d invest in two young leaders, two 23-24-year-olds.
“Motivated people who can regenerate energy: matches need to be aggressive , something that hasn’t happened here for years, but has happened around the world. I’d like a team that doesn’t wait for the opponent like they did this year, but instead forces them to make mistakes.
“You’ll concede goals regardless, but at least you’ll have fun. That’s what I’d like: a coach with courage and desire.”
“I’m optimistic, as I’ve read my friend Sandro Nesta is. We need a couple of players who can push, a coach who can provide a clear line, a direction. And a technical expert with a defined strategy. Of course, you have to get them right and want it.
“I’m not talking about specific names, but it seems to me that Rangnick has brought in teams that have made sense, that have an organization. And Ibrahimovic, contrary to what many think, doesn’t seem to want to carve out a prominent role for himself, quite the opposite.”
“If the goal is to finally return to the Champions League and stay there consistently, then it’s not that long. If, however, the goal is to return to winning in Italy and Europe, then I’d say it will take years. There are at least six or seven teams much stronger, even than Inter.”
The futures of Leao and Maignan…
“It’s always been wrong, in my opinion, to consider him a leader, rather than a good player capable of intermittently firing on all cylinders. Personally, I’ve never considered him a Ballon d’Or winner: I’ve played with some of them and they’re a completely different beast.
“If he leaves, you certainly won’t lose Kaká or Sheva.”
“Rafa has never been a champion, even if he himself might have thought he was. If he changes his mind, real leaders arrive and he is given a different dimension in the right context. Then, he can even be useful. But he must be seen for what he is: an excellent player, not the star of the team.”
“If Maignan stops such frivolities, he’s strong: if there’s a save to be made, he saves. How many times has Maignan, the team captain, brought his teammates onto the pitch late? Was it at the start of the match or the start of the second half?
“If it was done intentionally, it’s a trivial matter; if involuntary, it’s even worse: you only end up making the others and the referee nervous.”
“The AC Milan captain is also an example of style and punctuality. The details that make the difference are others: attention, marking, and sacrifice. The rest is just baseness.”
The core to build around…
“Pulisic is coming off a disastrous six months, but he’s always been a serious professional: I wouldn’t write him off just for the second half of the season. I hope Modric stays: at his age he should be managed, but when he’s on the pitch he still teaches football.”
“I hope the same for Rabiot, he’s a beast. And then Bartesaghi is very young and can grow. Whilst Pavlovic has proven to be reliable.”
“Gabbia can stay, alongside a strong defender who needs to be brought in. As well as a great centre-forward. But I repeat: we start with the right people, that is, the coach and technical director. For the rest, we don’t need a lot of changes.”
Leao är skit
I can’t see an Italian winner of the UCL this decade. The level of the league is far too low.
How about PSG then?
Because the Italian don’t criticize their own and they think they are the best, imagine buiding a team around Gabbia, Barthesaghi in defence, smh
Billy always spoke the truth about Leao