Massimo Ambrosini believes Giampaolo should remain loyal to his principles, agrees with the coach that Paquetá needs to be more concrete, and says Boban is the right man for Milan.
The first Derby della Madonnina kicks off at 20:45 CEST tomorrow night at Stadio San Siro and it will be the first big challenge of the Rossoneri this season.
Milan went through some changes in the summer, making Paolo Maldini, Zvonimir Boban and Frederic Massara the leaders of the sporting side of the club, bringing a new coach in Marco Giampaolo and signing six new players.
The Rossoneri legend and former captain (and current Sky color commentator) Massimo Ambrosini spoke to Friday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the game as he awaits the challenge with passion “and with great fortune: I can still enjoy the emotions that these games give me.
“As a commentator on Sky what do I think of Giampaolo? I like him because he knows football very well. He’s a maniacal worker and his teams have specific ideas. It’s a great value: some coaches find it difficult to convey these ideas. He should be evaluated over a period of time that cannot be short. It’s right to ask for time and I agree when he says that he’s going to do his own way, he has to go ahead with his principles, even if in reality he has already had to compromise. Moving a player or making certain adjustments that we are seeing shows that he’s already begun to confront himself with dynamic concrete actions.
“He asked Paquetá to be ‘less Brazilian’? I agree with the coach. Paquetá has demonstrated quality but he has yet to understand that in Italy you play with such intensity, rhythm and speed that he has to show his qualities a fraction of a second before. He needs to show them more often and more concretely. He can be a trequartista because he can have the intuition to send his teammates on goal. He can also play safely as a winger in a 4-3-3, I think the mezz’ala is more difficult.
“I played with Rebić at Fiorentina? You could already see then that he was cheeky and a bit unconscious… I would use the term ‘wild’ in a good way. Milan need interpreters like him to break through, to change pace, skip a man and have strength, because in general they have very linear players. He won’t have any problems, physically he’s a beast.
“If Donnarumma is the leader like Boban crowned him? Widely… after all that happened to him, I saw him very mature, also from the point of view of management and taking the field. But I don’t know if in the locker room he is able to take responsibility verbally, he will have to test himself on this.
“If I’m happy for Boban? It’s a romantic return. I have a great relationship with him, even though I took his place when he wanted to play as a central midfielder in Alberto Zaccheroni’s 3-4-3, but he just couldn’t do it [laughs]. He is a guy of culture which is rare in the world of football. He has remarkable interpersonal skills and he understands people’s emotions. In terms of knowledge, relationships and a way of managing, he’s the right man. If he poked at Giamapolo regarding the play, it’s because he has a very strong aesthetic culture, he has always been a lover of beauty. What he says and does goes in this direction.
“Next to Zvone there is another one that I know very well? Maldini has changed with respect to the past, I see him even calmer, more aware of his role. He has the will to make an impact. His role and that of Boban will be very important with a coach like Giampaolo, because sharing and supporting are needed. Paolo and Zvone have a formidable empathy, they are a beautiful couple. I already saw them as players. And Massara completes the trio well. But time must be given to everyone.
“Gattuso chose to make a clean break from Milan? He made a choice of heart and therefore he must not have regrets. With what he had, he did an exceptional job, getting the most out of it.
“If Piątek has really finished his draught? He’s shown his qualities, but he must show that he can handle the pressure. He is the #9 of Milan and this means experiencing the pressure from moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. He must understand that the request to be more involved in the team’s play doesn’t take anything away from him.
“If Suso can play as a trequartista? At the beginning I was a bit doubtful, but if Giampaolo exposed himself so decisively then it means that he saw things. Suso can make the difference, especially if you are in constant control of the game. It takes time to find an identity, but Milan must rely on the ideas of the coach, put themselves in his hands.
“The mercato? It was intriguing, with logic. Krunić, for example, is extremely functional for the ideas of the coach, Bennacer is a talent, of Leão everyone speaks to me in an excellent manner, and Theo Hernández can remove the linearity like Rebić. But to finish fourth, Milan will have to squeeze the maximum of their possibilities.
“Who can be the surprise of the season? Çalhanoğlu can do more. He can do many things, but I wait for him to be more constantly close to the goal. But let’s not forget that much of the Rossoneri’s six points came from him.
“The derby of my heart? The first [on March 1996]. I still have the glance of San Siro in my mind, I was a kid, we lost but it was a thrill. And then of course, the derby that brought us to the Champions League final. How do I see this challenge? Very balanced. For Milan it’s easier to play well against big teams, because they’ll have more space.”
I hope he really meant it and could prove us wrong.
My main concern is why the coach is hesitant to start the best 11 players??!!!!
Can someone explain??!!
Lemme reserve my comments till after week 10
I dont want to judge Giampaolo and this Milan too soon, but what was shown so far is a disgrace. The players or the coach I dont know but what I see on the pitch is total lack of will to do something productive or creative, where are the runs and simple 1 2 passes or just even faster passing, our play is too passive, our team play is mostly non existent. The other night I was watching dinamo and what they showed was really impressive, simple fast and effective, everything we lack. In comparison our players look like 50… Read more »
Well said. Don’t you ever buy into these corporate lies that our legends are selling. Seriously its all wistful thinking. Milan have lacked total desire, common sense and urgency in their play thus far. If the players really think that they can all of a sudden beat inter who have shown higher tempo in play build-up and urgency and intelligence, then our players must be really taking advantage of Milan. They pick when it’s convenient for them to play. But if only they were good at it. It still wouldn’t balance out to beat the best teams and lose against… Read more »
Our next coach :D