Kaka has told AC Milan that they can beat Inter in Sunday’s derby, and that they must believe in the Scudetto comeback.
The Brazilian first joined Milan in 2003 and quickly became a fan favourite with his electrifying style of play, which culminated in a Ballon d’Or win during a campaign in which he led the Rossoneri to a Champions League triumphed.
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He left in 2009 for Real Madrid and then returned on loan in 2013-14. Kaka made over 300 appearances for Milan and scored over 100 goals, becoming a modern great.
The only team that Kaka faced more than Inter in his career were Barcelona. Against the Nerazzurri he won nine of 15 games, with eight goal contributions in Derby della Madonnina fixtures (five of them goals).
Kaka’s pre-derby thoughts
Kaka gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he reflected on his time at Milan and looked ahead to the big game on Sunday at San Siro.
Could you become a director one day? Maybe at Milan?
“I’ve had good mentors: Berlusconi, Galliani, Braida, Leonardo, not forgetting Florentino in Madrid. As a player, I studied their work, now I work in sports marketing, and who knows what might happen in the coming years. My relationship with Milan has been and always will be special for me.”
Let’s start with the derby, which is coming up in a few days. What’s your feeling as a fan?
“It’s a great feeling. It’s a 10-point gap, but I say, it can be done, even for the Scudetto. Sure, considering the current standings, it seems like a very difficult task, but I’ve seen a lot in football and, I repeat, I believe in it. As long as we can, we have to believe in it, and the guys on the pitch will do it.”
What kind of match do you expect? Allegri is often criticised for his pragmatic play…
“Look, I’m Brazilian, and I think the debate between jogo bonito and the need to get results will always be there. In a perfect world, the two would be combined, but as Milan fans, you have to look on the bright side.
“Max knows Italian football well, he’s doing an excellent job, and it makes me proud that Milan is back there, second in the league, fighting for the league title and potentially returning to Europe.”
What do you think of Chivu? There was skepticism at first, but his Inter have taken off…
“I saw him at the Club World Cup last summer. The team didn’t do very well in that tournament, but it was the beginning of a new adventure. Chivu has built a solid team for his debut on a top coach: it’s a pleasant surprise.”
Does Modric, who is more or less your age and is still there on the pitch getting excited about a victory over Cremonese, also surprise you?
“Lukita is a force of nature. It’s fantastic to see what he’s doing in terms of enthusiasm, leadership, and obviously technique. I played with him in Madrid and I know his mentality.
“Is it surprising that he’s still so motivated given the number of trophies he’s already won? Maybe, because it’s human to lose a bit of motivation when you’ve already had everything. But he’s amazing.
“He still wants to play his game, he calls his teammates to action, he always fights, he has energy and personality. His contribution to Milan is important in matches and in training, and I think his presence is good for Italian football as a whole.”
There has been bit of a decline in Italian football compared to when you played in Serie A…
“I still consider the Italian league to be very competitive. The level has dropped a bit, if we remember that it used to be the most important league in the world and now there’s the Premier League. But it’s still an entertaining tournament, and the Milan derby is one of the best games to play and watch.”
Better than the Madrid derby?
“Honestly, it’s hard to choose. These are games the whole city talks about, before, during, and after. If you win, you’re king, and if you lose, you feel a weight on your shoulders for days on end.”
When was the last time you came to Milan?
“Last year, I went with my wife during Fashion Week. I found the city even better, very beautiful, with new neighbourhoods and the ability to blend history and contemporary life, a trait I really appreciate.”
Are you still in touch with your old team-mates?
“Of course. I met Paolo Maldini in Dubai on New Year’s Eve. I’ve been following Rino [Gattuso] and his adventure with the national team. I keep in touch with Pirlo, Sheva, Seedorf, but also with Galliani, Braida, and Leonardo. It’s nice that these strong bonds have remained.”
What are your happiest memories of the derby?
“The Champions League derbies, especially the first one.”
The ugliest?
“The defeats. Luckily, I’ve had more wins than losses in derbies, but losing is always bad.”
What do you like about this Milan?
“That he’s back fighting for the Scudetto. Because, I repeat, I still believe in it: ten points is four games, and the road is long.”
What don’t you like?
“The points we dropped. With all due respect to our opponents, matches like the one against Parma at home must be won.”
Who would you take from Inter?
“I’d say Lautaro, but since he’s injured I’ll say Thuram.”
Milan’s derby man?
“Modric, without a doubt. With his experience and class, he’ll make the difference. But I also really like Pulisic, and then there’s always Leao…”
Returning to Modric, in your opinion will he go or stay?
“Science now helps athletes in every field, it extends your career, it helps you with recovery time between one effort and another. If we think about how important Luka is to the team now, I think he could continue for another two or three years, but who knows.
“There’s fitness, and then there are the player’s decisions, the needs of his family, the desire to return home. There are many factors that push you to end a career, but from how I see him on the pitch, I think he can play for a long time without any problems.”
San Siro’s time is coming to an end. Are you saddened by the demolition of the stadium, even though it’s still a distant event?
“I think about the story and say it’s awful, there’s nostalgia for the moments we shared there. But every now and then you need a change and life goes on: a piece of us will go away, but there will be something new and we can build other beautiful adventures.”
A final word on the derby?
“And there’s one thing I’m certain of: that Milan can beat Inter and close the gap in the standings. I trust Lukita, and not just him.”
I love this man so much, nice words from him. And he is absolutely correct, there is always a chance. Jesus Christ be praised ☝️☝️