Maldini previews the new season and highlights what could give Milan ‘an advantage’ over rivals

AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has reiterated the importance of stability as well as feeling the support from the fans.

It was a positive season for the Rossoneri in 2020-21 as they managed to secure a return to the Champions League and also a second-placed finish, which is the highest for the club since the 2011-12 campaign.

The work of Maldini as a director has been praised for his part in helping the club’s recovery, working under a tight budget but making smart investments on young players who have room to grow, but also sanctioning the additions of experience in the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Simon Kjaer.

Maldini spoke to Milan TV about the ambitions for the upcoming season and the importance of having a stable environment, with his comments transcribed by MilanNews and translated below.

On next season: “The sensations are those of a departure after a very positive year made up of great results and many confirmations. A certain stability has been gained at the club and sporting level. Having a young team, the goal is to improve team performance and gain stability which can be an advantage over teams that are changing.”

On competing in the Champions League: “We play in a very competitive league but the emotions of the Champions League are something more. There we will evaluate the strength of some players and young boys. Among other things, we hope to play in front of a large audience because this has greatly influenced the growth but also the lack of growth of some players.”

On the affection of the fans: “Their events, authorizsd among other things, have given us a great boost. We have seen what is happening at the European Championships and the difference between football with and without people is incredible not only for the fans who they attend a show but also for the players who receive a lot of stimuli.”