Sky journalist Peppe Di Stefano has outlined what he believes are the two points of view regarding Paolo Maldini and whether AC Milan are currently missing him.
There are a growing number of fans who believe that Milan are feeling the after-effects of not having somebody like Maldini in and around the team on a daily basis, as he was in his role as the technical director before he and Ricky Massara were relieved of their duties.
With the Rossoneri struggling to begin the new season having picked up just three wins in the first nine games, the pressure is ramping up on the head coach Paulo Fonseca and the squad, something that can be eased with a calming intermediary figure.
There were some assumptions that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to the club in an advisory role would see him become a mentor of sorts and help the team in difficult moments, however he is absent more than present at the moment.
Peppe Di Stefano spoke on Carlo Pellegatti’s YouTube channel and he spoke about the two sides of the Maldini issue, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.
“There are two points of view. From the general one, the average fan says that it is madness that in any role there is no room for Paolo Maldini at Milan, and Cafu said so too, who certainly has no prejudices,” he said.
“From the point of view of the owners, they tell you that they make their choices and go ahead with them. The problem is coming out more this year.
“Last year he hadn’t been replaced but Pioli was more of a manager and there was something that completed and compensated for the absences of Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, which we mustn’t forget.”
Pioli wasn’t a manager and nothing was compensated. Don’t be daft.
I wonder tho. How many x players does barca have in their management or real. How many legends are around their teams. Is this something we really need to be successful?
Ex-players are obviously not a must for long-term succes with and as a team. A Sport Director is.
Don’t pretend you, or us, are this dumb, cause none of us are.
Idk what you on about. I’ve been pro a new sporting director since they fired maldini.
And yeah majority of users on here and just people in general are dumb as rocks. I’m surprised they know how to read and do basic maths if I’m honest.
Well said 🙂
You know exactly what I am talking about, but ok. Have a great day.
You sound like a woman..no, my dude I can’t read minds so no I don’t know what you’re talking about..if I did I wouldn’t ask
I think the biggest debate is whether or it this highly unprofessional in-fighting around cooking breaks, red cards and penalties would happen if Maldini was here. I sincerely doubt it. I think Maldini would have had Theo in check
Doubt it. What would he do? Go on the pitch mid game and tell him to get his ŝhit together?
Theo was like this even when maldini was in the club. He made stupid decisions all the time. It’s who he is. But we were winning so it got forgotten quickly.
Untrue. Théo always has been hot tempered on the field but bare a few occurrences it was linked to the game. You can’t blame a defender for taking a yellow card. It’s unprecedented though that he was rebelling against the coach as it happened at least one time with the water bottle drama and maybe twice with the penalty scene.
Maldini made mistakes yeah. It’s still hard to say if it was because of inexperience or because of the divergence of ambitions with the ownerships. The fact is that during his tenure the club got unexpected results quickly while it’s a pity since the very moment he left.
You can’t blame a player for not taking a cooling break when he just got on the field. And you can’t blame a captain for taking responsibility and having a go at a penalty. If he’d scored it he’d been hailed the hero.. he didn’t and now people cry over it.. basic
And the rebelling part is just media bs. Our team is fine there is no rebelling and the coach hasn’t lost the locker room.
But not to this extent..just watch Maldini telling Gattuso to shut up and calm down….he’d have had words I’m sure
There is no extent. Stuff happened and media blow them out of proportion. Reading articles about Milan you’d think we’re bottom of the table and the team has fistfights with the coaching staff each training session..
Yes I seen that a million times. Probably saw it life when it was happening. Captain telling a player to shut up and calm down is nothing out of the ordinary. Even if it is gattuso
There’s no figure head of respect at Milan currently, the inmates are running the asylum. I’d get Baresi in there. Theo has been hot headed in games but recent behaviour is unacceptable
Says who? It’s easy for fans to say there is no respect and other bs. But fact is. We don’t know we only speculate about it.
I said a dozen times already. I’ve seen teams where the coach did lose the thread. And they play nothing like we do.
Baresi does need to get in there. He should be doing much more in the club than being a mascot he is atm
Bud, I think recent behaviour shows the lack of respect in the club…Fonseca clearly doesn’t demand it.
Agree with you on Baresi 100%
Anyone who has an idea about italian football at from the 90s known that for Ac Milan,Paolo is not just a person, he is an institution you can just do away at will.You have to think twice before you do so!
Yes. He is the ultimate one man club man. Personally I think he’s the greatest player of all time…f@ck Messi and Ronaldo and their goals. This guy was the best LB in the world for 10 years, and then become the best CB in the world for the next ten years, an absolute leader, doing it all by being a consummate professional and demanding the respect of his peers, those including Platini, Maradona, R9 and Cristiano. Even opposition fans talk about Maldini with affection and admiration.
He’s not just a Milan institution but a footballing one
You are actually talking now as a true Milan fan. I wonder who in his right senses will defend or even trust this current management with the kind of blunders they’ve done. No proper footballing figure in their ranks just statisticians and low grade auditors running a football club. For some people who have seen this club firsthand from the days of Silvio Berlusconi, they will understand that Milan is not progressing in any footballing sense. Maybe they are making money with it, but the fans need winnings not balance sheet.
Two years ago with Maldini we finished in 5th place.
Last year without Maldini we finished in 2nd place.
Anyone blaming the lack of Maldini for this year will also need to explain why we did better last year without him, than the year before WITH him.
Enough with these dumb narratives. Purely fans of the Player/Director trying to spin a narrative based on insufficient facts.
He was a big part of the clubs revival, but so too were Boban, Elliot, Gazidis, Massara and the players from three years ago. Condensing the argument into “Life was better because Maldini was here” is pure idiocy.