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Massimo Oddo analyzed Milan’s moment on the eve of the match against Manchester United in the Europa League
On AC Milan’s Twitch channel, Massimo Oddo talked about AC Milan heading into the first leg of the Europa League first knockout round, also giving a more general opinion of the Rossoneri season:
THE CHAMPIONS 2007: “That year Milan was a bit struggling in the league, it all started from that famous match with Celtic and an extraordinary Kaka resolved it in extra time.”
THE DEBUT AT THE ROSSONERO: «I remember that game very well. I was born in the youth sector of Milan, then I made 4-5 years of loans. In Naples I consecrate myself, I arrive in Verona and at that moment Milan sells me. For me it was one of the greatest successes in the history of football. The moment I consecrate myself, you sell me, it means that they did not believe in me. So I wanted revenge, one of my wishes was to go back to Milan. That day was an incredible emotion, from Milanello to San Siro by bus I went to the bathroom 4-5 times ».
THE MORNING BEFORE AC MILAN-MANCHESTER: «I remember perfectly that Paolo trained that week but was in very precarious conditions. In the morning he also tried to finish. Paolo was deeply disappointed by his absence, but before the game he asked us to play for him too to allow him to have a rematch against Liverpool.
ABOUT CALABRIA: «He is doing well, he has grown a lot. I am frank and sincere, two years ago I did not believe much, I did not consider him a player worthy of Milan. A good player but not at the height of Milan. He was really good, they should compliment him. I think he is one of those guys who wants to get there, in today’s football there are few. A very humble boy, who wants to learn and wants to improve himself. Talent matters, but the head counts even more. If you have the right mind, it allows you to overcome many limits.
PREPARING FOR CERTAIN RACES: «You do not need a particular preparation, the adrenaline and emotions before these events are with you, you live them in the environment. They are even stronger later, it happened to me with the Champions League and the World Cup. I have thought many times in my head that I was lucky to play for Milan and Milan gave me the opportunity to elevate everything to heaven. But it all starts with that game, if we hadn’t won against Liverpool, I wouldn’t have won everything I’ve won after that. Then after this emotion you live it even stronger ».
THE ROOMMATE ON THE MOVE: «’I was in a single room. Most of us had individual rooms, both in Milanello and outside. It is correct that there is respect for the habits of others. At that time there were few doubles, I remember one: Nesta and Pirlo were always together.
ABOUT THE ROLE OF TERZINO: «Each coach gives an impression of the game, in my role it changes a lot. In Lazio we played 4-2-3-1, my lane was always free. In Milan we didn’t have the Christmas tree, it was a 4-4-1-1 with Seedorf covering the left wing. Ancelotti used to say to Clarence: “Play close to Kaka, then when you have to go back, go a little more to the left.” Then in the offensive phase, Seedorf continued and Rino covered me. It was different from Lazio, you have to get used to what the coach and the team want. After many years I always say that the first part of the season in Milan I played the best games in the defensive phase.
OF SANCTIONS: «We look a bit like Kessié as penalty shooters, we both watch the goalkeeper until the end. I took the longest, slowest step to look at the doorman. We are very similar, we both look at the goalkeeper. He is a very good penalty taker. I was surprised when he was challenged a couple of years ago. I have always considered him a great player. When a player enters the field, he always puts his heart into it. On the other hand, when you feel in the right environment, it seems like you put a lot more heart into it. At the moment, there is a suitable environment in Milan. At the moment on an environmental level, Milan is more of a team than the others. Obviously it was not like that two years ago, in this context everyone puts something extra. This is my personal opinion “.
IN THE CHALLENGE OF TOMORROW: «At the moment United is returning to the levels of some time ago, I am not talking about the levels of Manchester United in 2007 with Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney. It is a well organized team, it has excellent individualities, it is a Europa League match between two great teams. The adrenaline to play these games again should be an added value. In Milan I repeat that now there is the right atmosphere thanks to Pioli, the group and the club, in my opinion Milan can aspire to the next round. Manchester was probably the strongest team in 2007 too, but we won 3-0.
IN THE SENSE OF BELONGING: «I think this is a fundamental aspect, it is what is being recreated now in Milan. A figure like Paolo, in addition to being competent from a technical point of view, is a figure who knows Milan perfectly, AC Milan almost created Paolo Maldini. This environment that has been recreated, the merit is above all of the direction, it is what was missing when the generational change of the last Milan winner took place. There has been a change from a technical and social point of view. If there had been continuity in the management of the company, the message of the “Milan family” would have been easier to convey. Now with Maldini and Ibra, as well as people like Mauro Tavola who have been in Milan for many years, this important environment is being recreated.
