AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has assembled the defence of the future and it is thanks to his work that fans can rest easy.
Calciomercato.com take a look at Milan’s current defensive options and how important Maldini has been in constructing it as well as raising the level of the individuals with the help of head coach Stefano Pioli.
Davide Calabria for example said ‘being able to work with Paolo, one of the most important captains in the history of football and one of the strongest defenders in history, is an incredible thing’.
Pierre Kalulu stated that ‘when Paolo Maldini talks to you, as a footballer you feel that you have someone important in front of you… he still generates something inside you’.
Fikayo Tomori was equally full of praise: “Maldini is the best defender ever . The other day he was talking to us about the speed of the ball passing behind and how to work on our body position. As a defender, you want to make sure you impress him.”
Finally, Theo Hernandez stated that when he was growing up he ‘looked to Paolo Maldini’, adding: “We talk every day, he comes to see our training sessions: it is an honour to have with us what has long been the best full-back in the world.”
Simply put, the future of Milan’s defensive core look up to Maldini as an icon and are flattered by his presence. The aura of legend is present, and there are even players outside Milan like Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva who have sung his praises.
Thanks to his glorious past and his vision for the, the technical director of the Diavolo can continue his work feeling confident in what he has already done.
He was the best, he probably the best ever (number of trophies excluded)