AC Milan director Ricky Massara has declared that reaching the Champions League would be a ‘return home’ for the club, and shed light on Brahim Diaz’s future.
The Rossoneri face Cagliari at San Siro tonight with a very simple equation: win in order to secure a return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence. Juventus beat Inter yesterday and Napoli won earlier today, but three points against the Sardinians would be enough to clinch a top four spot.
Massara spoke to Sky Italia before the game with his comments transcribed by MilanNews and translated below.
“It’s an important objective and we need to keep up the same level of performance we saw in recent weeks, as Cagliari have been on excellent form lately and have wonderful individual talents,” Massara said.
How are you experiencing the current? Can the achievement of the Champions League change anything for the renewals? “It is an important goal to achieve and to do it tonight with a high-level performance against a team that has great individuality. The Champions is a first step to normality, where this club must be, a homecoming, we hope to be able to celebrate it this evening.”
What would be the scope of this entry into the Champions League? “It would be the certification of a virtuous path that began last year and that wants to bring back a European dimension of the highest level. We really hope to be able to achieve it, the team has made a wonderful journey and the coach has managed to express an exciting game at times.”
How was Pioli during the difficulties? “He had great clarity, with the ability to always re-emerge. We have lost games that we didn’t think we would lose, the Coach has always found solutions to give new life to this team that has followed him in all respects. Only congratulations for our coach.”
He was also asked about the future of Brahim Diaz who is on a dry loan from Real Madrid, amid reports the Rossoneri will try to either extend his loan or buy him outright.
On the future of Brahim Diaz: “We promised ourselves to talk to Real at the end of the season, we have an excellent relationship with them. We will check if the conditions are right to continue with Brahim. Above all we will sit down with the coach to plan for the future”.
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