AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis has given some further insight into the strategy the club plan to use to restore themselves among Europe’s elite.
It has been well documented that since Elliott Management Corporation took control of the club back in 2018 and instilled Gazidis as the Chief Executive Officer, the club have deployed a recruitment strategy based around signing exciting young talent to develop into a future core.
After some initial speed bumps it seems that things have really sprung into life since football returned post-lockdown, as the Rossoneri are 22 games without defeat across all competitions and currently sit atop the Serie A table.
Speaking to the microphones of SportLab, Gazidis spoke about Milan and the opportunity for growth that Italia football has, with his comments transcribed by MilanNews.
On the path that clubs are taking after the pandemic crisis…
“Football has rethought its operating model and although Financial Fair Play is not perfect for overcoming this crisis, I think it is important to understand that the impact would be of even greater proportions.
“However, in football we are facing a crisis with great loss of revenues and the football model must be re-evaluated. I think there are no simple answers to overcome this crisis but I think it is important to first develop Financial Fair Play to address the new problems that have arisen in football.
“Secondly, it is important to work together and with an open mind in order to find a synergy that is a catalyst to overcome this crisis. I am convinced that we will overcome this crisis with an open mind also because in the past we have faced many problems.”
On how the new generations of football approach the world of football…
“We have to analyse what is happening in the world of football. The fans of the future and the young fans of today do not follow football as we did in the past. The need to belong to a community and the ways to meet this need are changing radically but are equally important to the world of football.
“Fans of the future will follow football in a completely different way from ours. We inherited the passion from our fathers who took us to the stadium while now football is learned not only from the family but also from video games.
“Fortunately, the football public has also become female with the women’s football movement growing so much. The way of following football has changed and it is a great challenge but at the same time a great opportunity.”
On whether the choice of Serie A to allow outside investment is a winning one…
“This choice is important not only at the Italian level but at the global level. Serie A is an international league with international owners and players known all over the world and this is the opportunity to be seized that Italian football must exploit if it is to remain at the top of world football.
“We must take advantage of the new communication channels to engage fans from all over the world. This represents the future and Italian football must be at the forefront “
On his journay and a target he achieved that he is proud of…
“I don’t like to talk about pride in the results achieved because being proud means it has been achieved. Our goal is the goal and we work day and night to reach it. The pride I am talking about is a Milan that makes its fans proud of a club at the top of the world of football, which faces the greatest teams in this sport.
“A team that embodies the values of the club, players who have grown up in the club who know the fans appreciate the growth they have invested in. Players who know they belong to this family and who play in one of the best stadiums in the world here in Milan.
“To engage with the fans, communicate with them globally but also on a more personal level. This is Milan’s vision for the future with a weight and a place in the world of football. This is what we are working on and what makes the fans proud.
“I believe this vision will make Milan fans around the world proud. What I want to assure our fans who are watching us is that we work day and night on everything we need to give this club the place it deserves.”
On team goals…
“We have a clear vision of Milan at the top of the football world and the most important part is what happens on the pitch.
“To achieve this we need to have players who are proud and honoured to be a part of this club. I don’t care about players who think they’re doing the team a favour. It is exactly the opposite. Every player must be proud and honoured to represent this team, to wear its shirt and crest.
“Our game vision is very clear. We want an international and cutting-edge style driven by young players. Our team is one of the youngest in Europe and these players will grow and mature together led by more experienced players.”
