The former AC Milan goalkeeper Dida shared his thoughts on the success experienced with the club, his relationship with Mike Maignan, and the dynamics of a locker room in a recent interview.
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For many, Dida is synonymous with success at Milan as he played for the club between 2002 and 2010. In that timeframe, he won the Scudetto once, the Champions League twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, the FIFA Club World Cup once, the Coppa Italia once and the Supercoppa Italiana once.
In short, he knows a thing or two about winning with the red and black shirt. After his playing career, he also spent a few years as the goalkeeping coach of Milan, working with Mike Maignan in the first years of his Rossoneri tenure.
Speaking to MilanNews and Derbyssimo, Dida shared his thoughts on the time spent at Milan, from playing with champions to the dynamics of the locker room. He also discussed the growht of Maignan and what the Rossoneri mean to him.
Can you only keep one trophy: Manchester 2003, the 2002 World Cup, or Athens 2007?
“That’s a tough one (laughs). Can I keep all three? If I have to choose one, I’d choose the 2003 Champions League, because it was special. I was decisive in the penalty shootout. The World Cup is also very important.”
You’ve been a silent leader: a limitation or a strength?
“I had a great time. Silent in the sense that I don’t always communicate outside of football, but on the pitch I communicated with everyone, before and after the game. Silent only because I’m a very shy guy; I didn’t like being in front of the cameras.
“But I answered all the journalists’ questions; I knew it was part of my life. But I’ll tell you the truth, I’ve been very happy with everything I’ve achieved in my career.”
Was there a moment when you said, “I have made it”?
“I think so. It wasn’t at Milan, but at Corinthians. I felt really strong, and they rarely conceded goals against me, even from eleven meters.”
What was the secret to gaining respect in a dressing room like Milan’s?
“Being humble. Having humility. Arriving at Milan and facing so many top players was divine for me. I saw how I had to behave in the dressing room. Paolo’s [Maldini] presence was fundamental. Having all these champions around me helped me grow.
!It helped me a lot: behaving better, dedicating myself. At that time, it was great to be in the dressing room, joking with my teammates, but now I don’t know how it works with cell phones…”
Was it more instinct or hard work?
“Both. I’m a guy who arrived before everyone else and left after everyone else. I dedicated myself to staying physically, technically, and mentally fit, because I knew the more I worked during matches, the better I felt. Then of course, I was also very instinctive, reactive.”
What matters more today: preparation or talent?
“Talent is very important. Knowing you can do spectacular things is important. Then, obviously, the physical aspect is also important, so you need to have this preparation, physical running, because you run for 90 minutes.”
On Maignan…
“I really like Mike. In my opinion, he’s an exceptional goalkeeper, a great one. He’s excellent with both feet. When he arrived at Milan, he only had one thought: to throw the ball as far as possible.
“He still didn’t know what the best option was. We worked for a year, and now he has a great understanding. He’s excellent in this role, and today he knows where to put the ball.”
The most difficult moment of your career?
“Before my Milan move was finalised, when I went on loan to Lugano. I arrived on my first day, and it was snowing. The coach told me to run a few laps around the pitch, and in the meantime, I was thinking, ‘Why would I come here?’, especially since I had no family, in another country.
“But it was a moment I had to face, I threw myself into it, and even though I didn’t have the chance to play there, it was very useful and helped me grow.”
Was the Milan locker room you experienced really so packed with champions, or was the strength of the group more important?
“When someone new arrived, it could upset the balance within the locker room, but we were always good at bringing it back into line. If you have such a cohesive, important group, you can change even the people when they arrive from outside, even changing someone’s mentality.
!In the 10 years I was at Milan, I was surrounded by fantastic players, who gave their best, but I really had a great time living through this period.”
Which goalkeeper resembles you today?
“I mentioned Mike before. I met him when he arrived at Milan, and I worked with him for a year. He had something special. I saw a different kind of strength in him. We developed a great friendship. He would sometimes come to training after matches, doing specific workouts. That’s not for everyone.”
For you, Milan is…
“A family.”