AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini spoke about the decision to change to a three-man defence and confirmed he met with owner Gerry Cardinale today.
Maldini spoke before the Champions League last 16 first leg game against Spurs at San Siro tonight, which represents the Rossoneri’s first UCL knockout game at home since the 2013-14 season when they faced Atletico Madrid.
The director was interviewed by SportMediaset and began by explaining what it means to have such a big night and a huge occasion back at San Siro, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
“There’s great satisfaction for the crowd. We’ve found a symbiosis that has yielded great results over the years,” he said.
Maldini was also asked for an update on the renewal of Rafael Leao, but he did not give much away: “The will is still the same. Today, however, we must only think about the match.”
Paolo spent most if his Milan career defending as part of a back four, but Pioli has decided to go with a three-man rearguard for the last three games now.
“Europe is difficult, the gap with the others, especially from an economic point of view, is enormous. I would have liked to get to this match with fewer injuries. The change in formation was dictated by the moment. This Milan are slightly down compared to the one that won the Scudetto last year,” he said.
“It’s normal in a course to have ups and downs. We’ve lost the chance to win two of the four competitions available. Beyond the formation, we must be aggressive, we must not distort our nature.”
Finally, Maldini confirmed that he met with owner Gerry Cardinale today to discuss the project moving forward, one that he has faith in.
“I saw him today at lunch, everything went well. It is unthinkable to reduce the gap with the others [top clubs in Europe] in a few years. We believe in the project, but it takes time. We have to find a balance, expectations are high, we know to have great responsibilities.”
Maldini also spoke to Sky, and was asked if superheroes are needed for the Champions League nights like this.
“Pioli’s words are nice, I’m at Milanello every day and I try to give my contribution for everything I’ve experienced with this fantastic shirt. The level is very high, we get there after a long time and unfortunately in a moment where we are not in great shape, not very convincing and with a few injuries too many. We play a lot, it will be a very delicate match. We want to keep the game open and then play for the tie in the second leg.”
Today you met Cardinale: “I won’t tell you what we said, we hadn’t seen each other for a long time. We talked about many things, we updated on the moment and we talked about this game.”
On the negotiation for Giroud’s renewal, will Cardinale also remain for the usual photos? “Tomorrow the Cardinal is leaving, there won’t be time. Right now the players have to concentrate on the important competition, we have fought for 3-4 years to be here.”
On the three-man defence: “I join in wishing Zaccheroni well, let’s hope he’s getting better and better, we’re very close to him. Three or five-man defence, everyone sees it as they want, is at this moment a way of uniting us.
“What we have done in this month and a half has not given us the solidity that we have had in the last two years. The system is not important, but how you interpret the system, we must not forget what were the weapons that brought us here, aggression and courage.”
On Thiaw: “I never know if words can be positive or add tension. I’ve talked to him a lot in recent months, I’ve seen his growth and I told him not to give up. Both he and Vranckx are very young and are improving day by day. Against Torino he showed that he has many qualities, today we will also find out from an emotional point of view.”
Couldn’t you re-sign for the month ahead? “If you saw me walking you’d know it’s not for me. The ball seems so heavy to me that I could break something. What happened happened, and it was beautiful (laughs).
“We are in a moment where the click to go back to what we were doesn’t come overnight, it will take time. Unfortunately or fortunately, we have fundamental matches, we have the opportunity to get back to who we were.”
Our 4-2-3-1 is too open, highly depend on pivots to protect the defensive-phase. But our 3-4-1-2 too defensive minded, which not represent AC Milan.
Why dont we switch to 4-3-1-2 ?
Addional midfielders to balance the defence & support high-pressing style, but the additional midfielder still give better attacking-phase than an additional defender.
“But our 3-4-1-2 too defensive minded, which not represent AC Milan.”
That is needed to fix the leaky defense. And once we can replace Krunic & Tonali with players who can actually pass the ball forward and CREATE, we will have the attacking threat as well.
You can’t expect Milan to be offensive when Krunic is in the playmaker role.
replace Tonali… you’re such a clown
Well argumented. I love the level of depth in your comments. They reeeally stand out on this site. I wish people were more like you.
Oh yes, Tonali is the greatest midfielder ever lived. Happy now? 🙂
Sometimes simplicity is best as I’m sure you can appreciate on a daily basis. By saying ‘once we replace Tonali’ already shows you have no understanding of Milan whatsoever. He will not be replaced, he is a young cornerstone of their project and could quite possibly be a future captain.
” shows you have no understanding of Milan whatsoever”
LOL. Teach me more, master! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
“He will not be replaced, he is a young cornerstone of their project and could quite possibly be a future captain.”
I love it when people settle for mediocrity. 😀 😀
If you want Milan to be able to compete for trophies, we
need better midfielders than that. Sad but true. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a Tonali-fan and like the kid (go ahead, take a look what I’ve written about him during the last 12 months). But he’s still miles away from the player we need to control our midfield.
3-4-3 should be use more often
kalulu – thiaw – tomori/kjare
alexis – krunic/bennacer – tonali – theo
diaz/CDK – Giroud – leao/rebic
in that way we can easily switch to 4-3-3 during the game in specific phases:
klaulu can switch to RB and theo to LB than we have 4-3-3
in defnesive phase both alexis and theo can switch back to LWB / RWB and we can switch to 5-2-3 of course leao/rebic and diaz/CDK woul need to help out to cover the middlefield
3-4-3 should be use more often
kalulu – thiaw – tomori/kjare
alexis – krunic/bennacer – tonali – theo
diaz/CDK – Giroud – leao/rebic
in that way we can easily switch to 4-3-3 during the game in specific phases:
klaulu can switch to RB and theo to LB than we have 4-3-3
in defnesive phase both alexis and theo can switch back to LWB / RWB and we can switch to 5-2-3 of course leao/rebic and diaz/CDK woul need to help out to cover the middlefield
“He will not be replaced, he is a young cornerstone of their project and could quite possibly be a future captain.”
I love it when people settle for mediocrity. 😀 😀
If you want Milan to be able to compete for trophies, we
need better midfielders than that. Sad but true. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a Tonali-fan and like the kid (go ahead, take a look what I’ve written about him during the last 12 months). But he’s still miles away from the player we need to control our midfield.
I haven’t even ventured an opinion on Tonali so again you’re talking bs, I am just showing the clubs’ perception of him and that won’t be replaced.
So we didn’t compete for trophies last year with him playing an extremely important role in the team, maybe that was my imagination? The only decision to make is who best to use next to him to compliment him.
Try and focus your limited mind on changes that are possible or else try your hand at football manager 😀 😀
Hate to disappoint you (I really do since I value your opinion so so much) but I haven’t played FM in two decades (and back then it was called Championship Manager).
” I am just showing the clubs’ perception of him and that won’t be replaced.”
And I’m glad you can teach us inferior people how the club sees things and act as a ferryman between us. Reeeally appreciate it.
just stop argeuing my friends,my english is not too good,we are part of milan it s like the coach,if we had a immediate change maybe hed lose out more matches causing UCL footy on the line,pioli needed t o take a risk so the team co uld play,bb,don riccardo is saying that he does not value tonali as a future balon dor winner but he is saying he is great our club currently lacks the budget for a midfielder if we need possibly 2 attacker re inforcements and a defence thats solid which will be around 60 million,so for the fact right now tonali is actually amazing with bennacer they play as a duo 2 seperate game styles for the team,not for their stats value to others but for the team , tonali is a milan fan for life maybe like you,he was fantastic and this mental block changed many players including our starMVP of serie a last season rafael leao,so we can only watch and decide we have no access to anything thats why were fans and support decisions.we are together no matter how much we argue