Sky reporter Peppe Di Stefano remarked on the apparent nervousness that Paolo Maldini conveyed before tonight’s match against Atalanta.
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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).