AC Milan will take on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight, and it is a fixture that Arrigo Sacchi knows better than most.
On the face of things it seems a tall order for Milan to get a positive result from the Spanish capital, given that they are the LaLiga and Champions League holders, possessing a plethora of attacking power.
Paulo Fonseca seems likely to think outside of the box to try and get a tactical edge on Carlo Ancelotti’s side, with Yunus Musah currently expected to be on the right of the attacking trident to help defend against Real Madrid’s left wing.
The story between Sacchi’s Milan and Real Madrid comes four chapters, with eight goals scored (five in one magical night), and many anecdotes to pass on. The first time was in April 1989, in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Marco van Basten equalised after Hugo Sanchez’s goal at the Bernabeu with a fantastic diving header and wrote the first act of the saga. An act that would have its sequel later, as Sacchi revealed to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“In 1998 I was coaching in Madrid and it was then that Emilio Butragueno, still a Real director today, confessed to me that we had been spied on, studied. They had reports in which our speed was described as incredible, our pace asphyxiating. It was the first time that an Italian team went to the Santiago Bernabeu to command.”
Catenaccio was put aside: Milan went to Madrid and dominated. Sacchi, what happened in the meantime?
“We went to play as protagonists, if they had the ball we attacked them to take it away from them, we never backed down. The truth is that I had a team of reliable people, an adult team.”
Upon returning to San Siro, Milan will experience one of the most exciting nights in its history: 5-0 against Real, do you remember it well?
“Many, one in particular who started even before the match. We did things with commitment and seriousness, even in training. In training matches we went in hard and that’s how they hurt Evani: given the qualities he had, Chicco wasn’t easy to replace.
“I put the most willing player I had on the left wing, who I was sure would do everything I asked of him: Carlo Ancelotti. He played a great match and scored the first goal.
“At San Siro we also won in the round of 16 the following year, deservedly: for me that’s fundamental. There’s no success without merit, otherwise it’s like having lost.”
Ancelotti is now the coach of Real Madrid, the best coach in the world. Could you have ever expected that?
“Carlo is a lovely man, he called me at least seven times in the last few days. He is intelligent and modest, after all these are qualities that never travel separately. He was the first player I asked Berlusconi, he was hesitant.
“Milan had just finished fifth and Carletto’s knees did not seem to offer great guarantees. I told him that with him we would immediately win the league title. And so it was.”
This time it’s a different story: the Rossoneri are underdogs. Is there a chance to overturn the prediction?
“I hope all the players know the history of Milan, a history that is in the football books. The club with its style and its vision comes before the team and the team before each individual, everything starts from here.”
You seem to agree with Fonseca about Leao, is that correct?
“I’ll just say that I treated all my players the same way. Of course, Van Basten was the strongest but I never compromised. Between a good player and a reliable one, I choose the latter.
“I just hope that Fonseca already knew the players chosen in the summer, not only technically but also mentally. If there is not total harmony you can never have a valuable team.”