Sky reporter Peppe Di Stefano remarked on the apparent nervousness that Paolo Maldini conveyed before tonight’s match against Atalanta.
Milan went into their game against the Sardinians knowing that one win from their final two games would be enough to secure a return to the Champions League after seven years away, but they blew their chance at home and now face a tricky trip to second-placed Atalanta on the final day knowing only a victory will guarantee top four.
Pioli recently remarked that not reaching the top four would not be a failure for the club because the good work remains regardless, however it seems Maldini has a different idea as he said it would be a ‘great shame’.
Di Stefano spoke live from Bergamo in the pre-match and made an observation regarding the technical director Maldini.
“Maldini has won many Scudetti, but I have never seen him so tense and nervous; he was talking to Massara. Today they were watching Ilicic. It is a positive nervousness, healthy tension: it is his technical project, he has rehabilitated Milan from the point of view of tactical identity. Milan is now a real team and for him it would be the best gift to bring Milan back to what he calls ‘home’, that is, the Champions League,” he said (via Milannews).
