Milan in crisis, former Leonardo and Costacurta ruthless: "They had Paolo Maldini"

A Milan in crisis, and many former Rossoneri champions are pointing the finger at the management of the Milanese club. Among them is former sporting director and coach Leonardo, who in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio wished for a return of Paolo Maldini after the stormy farewell two years ago.

“If you have Paolo Maldini at Milan, I don’t know what algorithm can tell me that it’s better not to have him. It doesn’t only hurt me not to see him there, it hurts everyone. Paolo is a figure that should be in the world of soccer. I think there are no such complete figures in today’s soccer because he has completed himself over time, he has been a manager at the highest level, successfully, in the team where he has been for 30 years.”

“I am sure Paolo has a lot to give. Today there is a very political, very complex, very archaic structure that some even prevent this from happening. What is needed, in addition to ideas and skills and desire, is something that drags, that makes people believe that ‘this is a good thing’ to follow. It is difficult to find a figure who is able unanimously to pass this idea along. I see in few people these characteristics, and Paolo, perhaps, is the only one.”

On the algorithm: “I have nothing against it, but I have always seen it as a support for the person’s decision, not something that should replace it.”

Former defender Alessandro Costacurta also spoke to Sky about Milan: “They have been playing like this for four games out of the last six. Today they also made an effort, but they lost a lot of lucidity and mental freshness. The team arrived with short breath at the crucial moment of the season.”