Massimo Oddo analyzed the moment of Milan on the eve of the match against Manchester United in the Europa League
Speaking on AC Milan’s Twitch channel, Massimo Oddo spoke about AC Milan in view of the first leg of the first knockout round of the Europa League, also giving a more general opinion of the Rossoneri’s season:
THE 2007 CHAMPIONS: “That year Milan was struggling a bit in the league, everything started from that famous match with Celtic and solved by an extraordinary Kaká in extra time.”
THE DEBUT IN 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. It was one of the biggest successes in football history for me. 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 return 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 in that week but was in very precarious conditions. In the morning he also tried finishing. Paolo was deeply disappointed by his absence but before the match 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 up to Milan. He was really good, compliments should be paid to him. He seems to me 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 ».
THE PREPARATION FOR CERTAIN RACES: «It doesn’t take a particular preparation, the adrenaline and the emotions before these events are with you, you live them in the environment. They are even stronger afterwards, it happened to me with the Champions League and the World Cup. I have thought many times in my head that I was lucky enough to play for Milan and Milan gave me the opportunity to raise everything to heaven. But it all starts from that game, if we hadn’t won against Liverpool then I wouldn’t have won everything I’ve won after that. So after this emotion you live it even stronger ».
THE ROOMMATE ON THE MOVE: «“ I was in a single room. Almost all of us had single rooms, both at Milanello and away. It is right that there is respect for the habits of others. At the time there were few doubles, I remember one: Nesta and Pirlo were always together ».
ON THE ROLE OF TERZINO: «Each coach gives an impression of the game, in my role he changes a lot. At Lazio we played with 4-2-3-1, my lane was always free. At 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 Kaká, then when you have to go back, go a little further to the left”. Then in the offensive phase Seedorf went on and Rino covered me. It was different than Lazio, you have to get used to what the coach and the team want. After many years I always say the first part of the season at Milan I played the best games in the defensive phase ».
ON PENALTIES: «We look a little alike as penalty shooters with Kessie, we both look at the goalkeeper until the end. I took the last longer and slower step to look at the goalkeeper. We are very similar, we both look at the goalkeeper. He is a very good penalty taker. I was amazed when it was challenged a couple of years ago. I have always considered him a great player. When a player goes on the pitch, he always puts his heart into it. On the other hand, when you feel in the right environment it seems that you put a lot more heart into it. At the moment there is the right environment at Milan. In this moment on an environmental level, Milan are more of a team than the others. Evidently it wasn’t like that two years ago, in this context everyone puts something extra. This is my personal opinion ».
ON THE CHALLENGE OF TOMORROW: «At the moment United are returning to the levels of some time ago, I am not saying to 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 return to playing these games must be an added value. At Milan I repeat now there is the right environment thanks to Pioli, the group and the club, in my opinion Milan can aspire to the next round. Probably also in 2007 Manchester were the strongest team but we won 3-0 ».
ON THE SENSE OF BELONGING: «I think this is a fundamental aspect, it is what is being recreated now at Milan. A figure like that of 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 recreated itself goes above all to the management, it is what was missing when there was the generational change of the last winning Milan. There has been a change from a technical and a societal point of view. If there had been continuity in the management of the company, the “Milan-family” message would have been easier to convey. Now with Maldini and Ibra, as well as people like Mauro Tavola who have been with Milan for many years, this important environment is being recreated ».
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