Mike Maignan has lifted the lid on a number of different topics, from the competitive fire inside him to how much he feels connected to AC Milan.
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There was a wave of joy in the Milan world last month when Maignan’s contract extension was made official. The announcement of his new deal until 2031 seemed like a utopia heading into the new season, and yet relationships have been rebuilt and the Frenchman is back to his best.
There are multiple possible reasons behind this, from the role of Massimiliano Allegri and the goalkeeping coach Claudio Filippi, to the fact that Milan appear to be in a much better place than this time one year ago. Either way, ‘Magic Mike’ has pledged his future to the club.
‘I’ll always be a Milanista’
Maignan sat down with DAZN for an interview as part of a programme called ‘Beyond The Magic’ in which he answered questions on a number of different topics. MilanNews transcribed his words.
Where does your mentality come from?
“We’re alone. It’s us as a team and the opponents. And behind us, the fans. You have to have a pretty mean mentality to be a goalkeeper; you have to be a little crazy. There are some very important words for me: having faith, having discipline in your work, patience, and humility.
“When we play together, we can achieve great results. Discipline means being rigorous, having a way of working, and not ignoring anything. You must never give up, not even when you’re down. Humility because you must never forget where you come from and the sacrifices you’ve made to get here.
“If I’m here and I’m captain, it’s because I’ve lived my past. In my past, I’ve met several goalkeepers with more talent, but they didn’t have my mentality and my determination. I’ve had many challenges in my life that have given me this strength in my head, and that’s made the difference.”
What was your journey like growing up?
“It wasn’t an easy one, but at home they did their best to give me the best. My mom worked so hard on me. Some things you can’t forget, they’re memories that will never go away. I tried to leave all my problems behind, and now my mom is happy with me.”
What does it feel like being captain at Milan?
“First and foremost, I have to try to set an example and be the best at my job. Being captain is a responsibility, and I’m proud of it: in a group of twenty or thirty players, there’s only one. You don’t have to play a role: you have to be yourself and be an example.
“That’s what I try to do every day, without abusing the armband or the status. You don’t become a captain and a leader; you’re born with a certain mentality. You can learn, but I’m not like those who are born with this inside.
“If they gave me the armband, it’s because of who I am. In the past, I always told the youth coaches that there was no need to give it to me, because I already felt like a captain even without it. Today, having it is a source of pride and responsibility for me.”
And playing for Milan generally?
“AC Milan is where I showed myself to the world. I knew I’d be joining a great, extraordinary club. You have to come here to understand what Milan is, which is incredible. There are fans every away game, and when we play, you see the greatness of Milan. I’ll be a Milanista for life.
“Sometimes there’s life and show business, sometimes you have to do a bit of the latter. The key, the foundation, is to have humility, but if we don’t put a little fire into it, we won’t have all that soul inside. It might sound strange, but I like those who say they’re the best.
“We might think I’m not humble, but when you talk to them, they’re different. These phrases really lift you up, with the knowledge that I’m human and I can fall.”
There are a lot of staff at Milanello…
“There are so many people who work with us. I can’t pass by without saying hello. It’s the little things I pay attention to, everyone has to be treated equally.
“My mom always wanted me to clean my things and leave everything tidy. I grew up that way. If I’m not in a hurry, I clean my things, otherwise the warehouse workers help me.”
You have maintained high standards throughout your career…
“Today I’m 30 years old. If you don’t fall, you can’t get any higher. If you fall, you know how much it hurts. I’m very demanding of myself and of others, perhaps even too much. I have to understand that we’re not all the same, you have to understand how other people think too.”
What is Allegri like?
“Allegri is a top-notch manager, both in his dressing room management and his attitude on the pitch. When a coach changes, many things change. I arrived with a great desire for revenge compared to last year. This has been my belief from the beginning, and it still is today.”
How do you train?
“You can’t think of stopping, you have to improve every day. There are so many details that no one sees: the positioning of your hands, your fingers, how you push, and how you read the game. Being a goalkeeper isn’t just putting on your gloves and going into goal, every save has a technique behind it.
“You’re the last man before the ball goes in; you don’t want to feel like a hero, but you want to be part of the team’s work, you want to lend a hand.”
Do you get an adrenaline rush before matches?
“Sometimes you can arrive at a game feeling a little sleepy, but just hearing the stadium changes everything in your head. Just hearing the coach speak and you can’t sleep anymore. It’s all about adrenaline. It’s all about adrenaline.
“The coach already pumps us up and you’re already pumped up, you arrive and see your fans and then even the opposing fans booing you. You’ve worked all week and all your life to be here. You’re not afraid, but there’s the adrenaline of picking up the ball and going.”
What is the role of a goalkeeper in your eyes?
“The goalkeeper sees everything. For me, the goalkeeper is the coach on the pitch. You see everything, you have time to see everything, you can be a great help to your teammates. Every day you have to work to grow. There are so many details that no one sees.
“It’s not just putting on your gloves and going towards goal. The goalkeeper is the last man to get past before the goal. When you’re young, you don’t experience football the way you do now. As a kid, you want to have fun with your friends; today, you have to get results.”
Is Milan a family again?
“When I arrived my first year, I met Ibrahimovic, who greeted me and told me we’re part of a family here. I’ve always felt that way. AC Milan means so many things. God brought me here, and if I’m here, it’s because he planned my path here. There’s no such thing as fate.
“I’m happy with my life, there are so many positive things. I’m a man, a father, a son, a friend, a brother, a team-mate, a footballer. When you win, everything is easy; you’re the strongest and the most handsome, but it’s when things don’t go well that you see just how strong you are.”