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RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - xudong - 06-26-2014
![[Image: 46+birthday+cake.jpg]](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIzv_C9Wp8M/UloWDXsIfxI/AAAAAAAAGRc/nCD_4Vh8G10/s1600/46+birthday+cake.jpg)
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 06-27-2014
hmm, the article I read said 45, but you're right Xu, he turned 46.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 06-30-2014
Maldini could work for FIGC if rumours are believed (possibly replacing Albertini):
http://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/paolo-maldini-torna-in-nazionale-l-ex-rossonero-in-pole-per-il-nuovo-corso-azzurro-148629
Wouldn't be surprised if it's true, as he did say recently he sees himself working either for Milan or Italy. Good luck to him too if he goes to FIGC, I want him back but it looks very unlikely at this point.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 10-07-2014
Congratulations to Maldini who was awarded the Nils Liedholm prize yesterday for his role in football. Others who have won are Ancelotti, Platini and Del Bosque.
More interesting than that is the interview he gave. As per usual, I just find it very hard to disagree with what he says. Before posting the whole thing, here's a snippet about Liedholm from him:
http://www.milannews.it/gli-ex/tuttosport-maldini-ricorda-liedholm-il-nostro-calcio-avrebbe-bisogno-di-uno-come-lui-157118
It's nice that for all he's achieved in the sport, he never forgets who gave him the confidence in the first team. Obviously he's going to speak well about Liedholm whilst getting the award, but this isn't the first time he's spoken about Liedholm's influence in his career.
Here's the interview:
http://www.rossoneriblog.com/2014/10/07/maldini-inzaghi-is-good-but-milan-is-not-built-to-win/?
Some key things from the interview:
- He says this side cannot win the league, but can fight for 3rd place, which I think most agree with. The thing the translation omits is he thinks this is the case because a lot of teams who are in that fight are faltering. I don't disagree here and I think most will agree, as many will say we're probably a EL fighting team, but as nefremo has said, others around us haven't impressed.
- He says without any investment it's going to be difficult (something I discussed at length in the mercato thread), while he doesn't feel there's much planning based on the last mercato (again something I've said the same on in the mercato thread in detail). I've never hidden my disappointment in the last mercato and I get the impression Maldini doesn't disagree.
- He is willing to work at the club again, but it's on the club directors to contact him, as they stopped talking to him previously. He doesn't rule out working elsewhere. We all know there's a lot of politics involved here and I doubt we'll see him soon (unless Gabriele Marcotti is right and there's truth Galliani could leave next summer).
- He believed Pippo could do well as a coach from when they were playing together (it's something many have said), while he reiterates he's never had interest in coaching. Nothing new here, but he seems very clear what role he wants if he returns to football.
- He outright says the vote for Tavecchio is politics, not about renewing football. Few have the balls to say this, but he says it very clearly. Kudos to him!
- He doesn't feel regret about the ultras booing him at his farewell, which he feels distanced him from the ultras world which he never belonged to (i.e. others, like Baresi and Sheva, always had a closer relationship with ultras and knew some of them personally). I say good for him, as I don't hide that I'm no fan of ultras culture and don't think players should feel they have to answer to them.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - xudong - 10-07-2014
I am very happy to hear that Maldini announces in public that he is still willing to work for this club. At least he is not giving up on that idea, though I am skeptical what our club may do following up his comment.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 03-28-2015
Looks like Maldini gave an interview recently. Nothing too out of the ordinary about his comments:
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-sulla-finale-di-champions-92-93-brucia-ancora-quella-sconfitta-avevamo-dominato-il-torneo-172076
He was very disappointed in losing the 93 CL Final. In case people were wondering, that's a year where Milan dominated and won every match in CL only to lose 1-0 to Marseille (who have been involved in a doping scandal regarding that season) in the final.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-ecco-come-e-iniziata-la-mia-carriera-si-pensava-fossi-un-raccomandato-sacchi-ha-cambiato-la-nostra-mentalita-172075
He recounts his senior debut against Udinese, where he was subbed on for the injured Battistini. People knew him as Cesare's son, but he says he had the personality to forge out his own space. He then says Sacchi changed the philosophy of the people in the club.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-all-ultima-partita-a-san-siro-non-mi-aspettavo-quel-comportamento-dalla-curva-mai-stato-vicino-a-quel-tipo-di-calcio-172082
Says he wasn't expecting the curva to boo him at his last match at San Siro, but is glad of what happened as it distanced him from a group he never wanted to be associated with.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-sull-ultima-partita-giocata-a-firenze-e-stata-la-chiusura-di-una-storia-stupenda-nella-mia-carriera-ripagato-tanto-ma-ho-dato-molto-172083
Felt immense pride at the reaction of the Florence crowd in his very last match. It felt like a response to a Fiorentina legend to him. Also says he got a lot out of his career, but also gave a lot.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-sulla-finale-di-champions-con-la-juve-e-stato-super-il-piu-bel-ricordo-della-mia-carriera-172081
On CL 2003 win over Juve, he says it was incredible as it was exactly 40 years after Cesare Maldini lifted the trophy in 63 and both victories were in England, never mind it'd been 9 years since the last CL win. Felt it was possibly the best moment of his playing career.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 03-29-2015
A few more bits from the interview:
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-vialli-voleva-portarmi-al-chelsea-ma-mi-son-sempre-visto-in-rossonero-172077
Vialli wanted Maldini at Chelsea, but Maldini always intended to play the whole of his career with Milan.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-ecco-come-e-uscita-l-italia-dai-mondiali-del-2002-172078
He mentions how he could feel Italy were going out during the 2002 world cup
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-maradona-l-avversario-piu-forte-che-ho-affrontato-napoli-millan-del-1988-172124
Maradona was the toughest opponent he faced and never reacted to opponents, despite always being fouled.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-l-entrata-in-scivolata-non-si-puo-insegnare-ce-la-devi-avere-dentro-in-difesa-si-deve-badare-molto-al-sodo-172130
Says being a CB is tough due to the fact you're the last line of defence before an opponent is through on goal. Also says he doesn't think slide tackling is something that can really be taught, it's more of a natural motion.
http://www.milannews.it/le-interviste/maldini-a-sfide-nella-finale-di-champions-col-barcellona-non-concedemmo-nulla-dominammo-la-gara-172131
Regarding the '94 CL final vs Barca, he says the team was tactically well set up from the start and never really gave anything to the opponents.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 04-11-2015
Maldini's given another new interview lately with some interesting comments:
http://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/live-mn-maldini-si-punta-poco-sui-valori-del-milan-la-champions-del-2003-e-stata-fantastica-vorrei-rivivere-il-mio-esordio-173190
I will try to summarise the points...
- Back when young he'd take example from those who spoke little and lead by example, notably Baresi
- Times have changed from when he was still playing, as back then the players would be much closer off the pitch and essentially live together
- One of Milan's strengths should be its traditions and values, something he basically says are lost today
- It was tough being Cesare Maldini's son, due to his history with Milan and many assuming Paolo was given more chances as a result. It made him stronger mentally and Liedholm told him to keep calm and wait for his chance
- He found it weird when Cesare coached his sides
- On Maradona he says he was a great opponent. When he would turn up he'd moan about aches and pains, but once the match started he was a monster technically and physically
- On his coaches, he says Liedholm gave him peace of mind, Capello taught him the value of being professional while in the youth set up, Sacchi taught him a lot and then Capello confirmed him as a great player in the senior set up. Zaccheroni gave him a new approach, where at 30 he changed his workouts for his age, while Ancelotti returned to Milan at the perfect time
- On Italy 90, he says that going from Rome to Napoli to face Argentina was the biggest set back. He felt if Italy faced Germany in the final it would have the best, while if Italy had won they'd have cemented their place in history
- On USA 94, he says the team had great experience, but the climate really affected them as they couldn't play at a high tempo. There were a lot of doubts with the final, with odd preparation and eating at 7:30, while Baresi was uncertain. The end to the 94 world cup is possibly the biggest regret
- Keeping on 94, there was a test to see if Baggio would be fit by holding training at 8:30am on the day of the final, but he never turned up, so there were a lot of doubts ahead of the final about his condition
- On Euro 96, he only mentions how it's memorable as the day they lost to Czech Republic, Christian Maldini was born
- He also says how Cesare taking over for France 98 was quite embarassing and they had to act professionally. He was captain of the side back then, though this was already the case before Cesare became coach
- On Euro 2000, he says how it was strange as Italy had virtually won before the France comeback. However, he admits they had a lot of luck vs Holland
- On Japan/S Korea 2002, he says he didn't come into the World Cup in a good state, having been injured for 4 months and the environment, from the organisation, climate and fan support didn't impress. The word he describes it as is sterile. He admits he didn't play well and it's a shame that was his last world cup
- After the 2002 world cup there was huge criticism with the press claiming his career was over
- 2003 was Maldini's best season ever in terms of strength (i.e. lack of injuries) and the perfect response to the criticism post world cup, where the CL win was the best message to send out
- He felt great to be respected by opponents and opposing fans as well as Milan fans. For him, this shows people aren't stupid and understand you as a professional
- On Guardiola's dedication to him at the end of his career, he says he was surprised as he only really met him a few times back when he was in Italy and described his gesture as very nice. He says Guardiola's a guy that changed football
- On arguments he had on the pitch with opposition, he says he argued with Berti, Mutu and Materazzi. I'm a little confused by what he says, but I think basically he Materazzi particularly got him angry
- Also another translation which confuses me, apparently once he went to do a bad tackle on Serena, but instead got Baresi or something
- As his toughest opponents, he says Maradona, Ronaldo when at Inter and Zidane
- His most memorable game is probably his debut, as he always watched the senior players, Liedholm never said beforehand he'd make his debut and afterwards he got complimented by senior players, giving him confidence he could play at this level
Sorry for the couple of bits where I couldn't quite translate, but the rest should be generally correct
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - xudong - 04-13-2015
Dev, thanks for sharing your work. it always brings me great nostalgic emotion when I read about Maldini again.
About that 1990WC semifinal against Argentina, it was an early morning game for me as I was still in China at that time. I remember I got up 20 something minutes late, and Italy already were leading the game with a Schillaci goal, and I really thought that Italy would then just cruise effortlessly into the final, but it turned out to be one of my worst memories. I could totally understand the weird feeling Paolo had. The city was divided between Maradona (their city hero) and their NT, and I believe that Maradona got even more support than Azzurri, which had to be disheartening for Italian players for such an important game.
RE: Paolo Maldini (3) thread - ACMILAN1983 - 04-14-2015
No problem Xu. There's been translations of the Maldini dynasty (Cesare and Paolo) on Milannews lately, but there's been very little that most here won't know, so I haven't bothered to post about it.